Both have Stefan as their first name, come from Thurgau, are time trial specialists, have a wife called Céline, are the father of a son - and are only moderately disappointed after the Olympic diploma.
27.07.2024, 20:14
27.07.2024, 20:44
SDA
Stefan Bissegger in sixth and Stefan Küng in eighth accepted the verdict after crossing the finish line on the Pont Alexandre III: "The others were simply faster. I showed my best performance," said Bissegger. "I gave everything. I can't blame myself," emphasized Küng.
Bissegger, the younger of the two at 25 years of age, was not at all complacent. "I have nothing to hide with 6th place. These are the Olympic Games, not the Swiss Championships". As usual, he made up positions towards the end, but the one-minute gap to the bronze medal was too big, "especially as I started almost too fast for my standards".
Often ailing
Küng said that the reason for the considerable gap was the fact that his preparation was affected by several illnesses. Since June something had always come up, and this week his stomach had caused problems. "Under these circumstances, you lack the confidence to attack in the rain. The last few percent were missing - the clock doesn't lie."
He rode at the limit in Paris, but the gap has grown steadily: "But I don't see myself as unlucky," emphasized Küng, also with a view to Tokyo 2021, where only a few fractions of a second separated him from the podium, or the illnesses this summer. "I have to accept that I don't have all the factors in my own hands."
The conditions with rain and a partly slippery track in the corners were not classified by the two of them as decisive for the match. Bissegger believes he found a good middle ground: "Sometimes I was too slow in the corners, sometimes almost too fast. But I didn't crash." However, he couldn't resist a little side-swipe at the organizers: "At the Tour de France, the track is always cleaned. Not here."
Coup is still possible
In the battle against the clock, Switzerland has had a medal guarantor in Fabian Cancellara for many years. The four world championship titles of the two-time Olympic time trial champion still represent a record today. With Küng and Bissegger, Switzerland has even had two world-class time trial specialists for a few years now. However, neither of them are high-flyers and need the perfect day to score a coup.
Bissegger accepts this assessment. He still feels the motivation to keep going. Küng, runner-up in the 2022 World Championships, points to the ever-increasing density in the field. "There are more and more specialists. But if everything works out, the two of us still have a chance." The next opportunity for the two Stefans will be at the home World Championships in Zurich at the end of September.
