Nino Schurter has revealed he thought about retiring before his stellar 2022 season.
The ten-times World Champion says the Covid years of 2020 and 2021 robbed him of motivation and he missed the crowds.
But after taking his eighth overall World Cup title and yet another World Champs last season, he says he’s completely regained his mojo.
“The 2022 season for me was almost like a comeback,” he said.
“During those years of Corona, I didn’t have my best years - I wasn’t that motivated anymore. I was missing the spectators and I already had thoughts about retiring. And then 2022 went really well again.
“I won the first World Cup in Brazil, I had really consistent results in the World Cup - I won the overall and won my 10th World Championship title. So, for me it was almost again a perfect season. I’m feeling strong again.”
Schurter, who was celebrating his 37th birthday on Saturday, May 13, has won 33 World Cups so far and is now starting his 23rd World Cup season at the Czech venue of Nove Mesto Na Morave.
He admits he can hardly believe that he could ride the sort of rock gardens and technical features that face cross-country riders on the kind of bike he started his career on.
Talking about the development of XC bikes ahead of the first World Cup of 2023, the Swiss rider said the idea of riding a 26-inch hardtail with V-brakes and no dropper post through some of the tech features at Nove Mesto was daunting.
For 2023, Schurter, who is the 2022 overall World Cup champion and World Champion, is riding a special-edition Scott Spark RC. The bike has been customised to celebrate his glorious professional career with every one of his World Championship wins marked on the frame and even engraved into the links of his chain.
The 120mm-travel Scott has three remote suspension modes, 12-speed AXS gears, a 100mm dropper, four-piston disc brakes and 2.4-inch tyres.
“If you look back at the bikes I had at the beginning of my career they were totally different,” says Schurter.
“Wheel size is one thing, 26, but also the tyre sizes, I was on narrow 1.9 tyres, narrow handlebar, no suspension in the back. Now I’m racing on a 120mm rocket that you can also bring to a bike park if you want - with dropper post.
“Also, the whole drive train changed completely. Disc brakes - I was on V-brakes at the beginning. It’s a different world.”
“But it’s crazy we’re still racing on the same tracks and if I now see those rock gardens, and I’m like - with a 26” hardtail without dropper - I don’t know if I can get down there!”
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