Double Rainbow Day in Switzerland Q&A with Cube Factory Racing’s Newly Crowned XCO World Champions

Maruša Tereza Šerkezi and Finn Treudler, members of the CUBE Factory Racing XC MTB Team and 4iiii athletes, both realized lifelong dreams in Crans Montana, Switzerland, just over a week ago at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships. Racing for their respective national teams, Slovenia (Maruša)/Junior and Switzerland (Finn)/U23, both showed world-topping form and finesse in the XCO events, to claim the coveted rainbow jersey, which they’ll proudly don for the coming year as world champions. They took some time to share some insights with us on their career-highlight performances and their magical rides in Switzerland.

Congratulations on becoming World Champions, what an incredible achievement! Now that you’ve had a week to let it all sink in, how would you describe your emotions from that day and the moment you pulled on the rainbow jersey?

Maruša: The feelings were unbelievable – I still can’t quite grasp what I’ve achieved. All the hard work and sacrifices from the past year paid off. After such a demanding and stressful week, I mostly felt relief when I crossed the finish line. Standing on the top step of the podium, putting on the rainbow jersey and hearing my national anthem – those were moments filled only with joy. The atmosphere during the race and at the ceremony was unforgettable, and the course itself was simply amazing – it was a perfect day.

Finn: Thanks so much! It was an insane experience for sure, especially because it was at home in Switzerland. The crowd was incredible, and I’d never experienced something like that before. When I crossed the finish line, all the emotions came up. I worked really hard for this goal, and the whole team made a lot of sacrifices all year to get me here. To win this title means so much to me!

Which sections of the course did you find suited you best? Where did you take advantage of your strengths, and where did you have to be careful not to lose time?

Maruša: The course completely won me over. The technical descents were challenging but fair, while the long, steep climbs allowed me to fully use my climbing power. It felt as if the course was made for me. I rode without mistakes, which helped me make the decisive gap in the fourth lap and go solo from there.

Finn: I generally felt really good on the track. The climbs suited me perfectly, and I felt comfortable in the downhills as well. The section where I gained the most time over my rivals was definitely the steep and technical uphill parts in the forest.

Was it mentally difficult to stay focused while leading, knowing you were getting closer to the world title?

Maruša: I came to the start line calm, with just the right amount of nerves. I trusted my preparation. Throughout the race, I stayed focused and confident. Of course, I was aware that in mountain biking, anything can still happen in the final lap. But I admit that in those last kilometres I really felt like I had wings – and I could simply enjoy the moment.

Finn: For me, the whole preparation was already really tough mentally as I was the big favourite. With that, there is a lot of pressure, especially at a home world championship. But I always believed in my abilities and strengths. In the race, I was extremely focused until the final finish straight. I just concentrated completely on my lines and physical effort.

Can you share some of your key performance numbers from the race?

Maruša:

• Max Power: 713W

• Normalized Power: 243W

• Max Heart Rate: 190 bpm

• Avg Heart Rate: 176 bpm

Finn:

• Max Power: 1200 W

• Normalized Power: 357W

• Avg Power: 290W

This victory is the result of your dedication, sacrifice, and countless hours of work, but it also involves many people who have supported you along the way. Who do you most want to share this win with?

Maruša: First of all, I want to thank my coach and father, who is by my side every single day – he believes in me, guides me, and gives me strength when things get tough. My family has always supported me and understood the sacrifices this path requires. I also want to highlight the CUBE Next Generation team – the energy and atmosphere we have is truly special. Max, Sara, and Luis have always been there for me, and so has our physiotherapist Primož Hostnik, who makes sure I’m always ready to perform at my best. I’m grateful to the entire team – this rainbow jersey is just as much theirs as it is mine.

Finn: This Victory is especially for my Family and the Team. Without them, all this would not be possible. Thanks to everyone who supported me along the way!!!

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Learn more about the 4iiii power meters that were ridden to MTB World Titles.