MARC HIRSCHI
The Swiss all- rounder who was crowned U23 European road champion this summer
What do we need to know?
Marc is still just 19 years old, but has been causing a stir in the U23 ranks. This year so far, the Swiss has five wins and another 10 podiums to his name, including the U23 European road title, and already seems to be one of the brightest future talents to come out of the country. By coincidence, Marc also hails from Ittigen, the Bern suburb home to Switzerland’s biggest star Fabian Cancellara…
Cancellara you say, so is Marc a rouleur, too?
Partly, yes. Marc is a good time triallist – he won the Swiss U23 TT title in 2017 – and, like Cancellara, has shown a penchant for the Classics. He finished in the top 10 of U23 Flanders and Liège this spring and Roubaix as a junior. But unlike his elder countryman, Marc thrives in mountains, and his future seems to lie in stage racing. His versatility brought him to Development Team Sunweb’s attention when they signed him for 2018.
Where have his wins come?
On mountainous, uphill stage finishes, including Istarkso Proljece in Croatia, GP Priessnitz Spa in the Czech Republic, and stage 4 of Tour Alsace in the Jura Mountains, where he also finished runner-up on GC. But perhaps the biggest indicator of Marc’s potential was his fourth place at the 2.1 Tour de l’Ain in May. He came third on the hilly stage 2, before sticking with the GC riders on the final day – culminating on the summit of the Col de la Faucille. Groupama-FDJ’s Arthur Vichot won the overall; Cofidis’s Nicolas Edet and Rein Taaramäe of Direct Energie also finished ahead of him.
What else should we know?
Marc’s first taste of cycling was mountain biking, so it’s no surprise he has a liking for climbing now. But perhaps most surprising is that his first major cycling success came on the track. As a junior Marc won his first set of rainbow stripes in the Madison at the Junior Track World Championships in 2016.
What does the future hold?
Marc has signed with Development Team Sunweb – the U23 squad linked to the WorldTour outfit - until the end of 2019.