Focus Bikes

Since 2005, cyclocross rider Jasmin Achermann has remained faithful to the FOCUS Mares. First, as a normal customer of a specialist dealer, then later as a sportsperson sponsored by FOCUS. “I’d really have a problem with riding a different bike as part of a sponsorship event,” admits the 22-year old cyclist. She goes on to explain that she feels sure of herself on the FOCUS Mares. Plenty of sportsmen and women could tell you a thing or two about confidence in their own equipment and how important that can be. Jasmin has found a bike that suits her perfectly, and, as if to prove this, on 8th January 2012 she won her fifth Swiss Cyclocross Championship on the trot and her sixth overall. This was an outstanding achievement, especially as her arch rival Katrin Leumann was talked up ahead of the race, and the fact that Jasmin was appearing in front of her home crowd further added to her burden of expectation. In the TV interview after the race, however, the FOCUS rider explained how she approached the race. Her mantra was “I don't have to win, but I am allowed to win”. Yet she appeared surprised by the considerable gap she eventually managed to open up over her opponent. “I guess I also had a bit of luck on my side,” adds Jasmin who is also a fully-qualified confectioner. Regarding the element of luck, she's hoping that it will continue to hold. At least until the World Championships, which are being held at the end of January in Koksijde, Belgium. Her target: “A top-ten finish. Although, in view of the type of course, I suppose I would also be satisfied with a top-15 finish.”

As for the future, Jasmin hopes to make a real impact at the very top of the international sport. FOCUS wishes her every success, and looks forward to many more cyclocross seasons with Jasmin Achermann!

FOCUS competitors taste success in national cyclocross championships

It was not only in Switzerland that national cyclocross championships were held over the weekend of 7th/8th January. The following is a summary of how the FOCUS-sponsored competitors got on.

In the USA, Rapha-FOCUS professional Jeremy Powers was able to celebrate a win in the national cyclocross championship for the first time in his career. With an explosive performance and a boundless will to win, he prevailed with a margin of just 17 seconds. His teammate Zach McDonald outclassed the opposition in the U23 competition and secured the title for himself in emphatic style.

In Germany, Sabrina Schweizer (Team FOCUS MIG) achieved third place in the elite women's competition. In the men's competition in Germany, Fabian Brzezinski ended up as the highest-ranked FOCUS athlete, taking sixth place. In the U23 category, four riders on FOCUS bikes all achieved top-ten finishes. Yannick Mayer, Yannick Eckmann and Wenzel Böhm Gräber finished in second, third and fourth place respectively. Markus Schulte-Lünzum established himself in sixth place and managed to defend this position all the way to the finishing line, despite a crash.