Getting to Know: Thomas Frei

by Cathy Mehl

It’s always fun to sit down with the riders and learn about their backgrounds, hopes and dreams. I especially love learning about their families and what they like to do besides cycling. Thomas Frei is full of surprises. Enjoy this interview that helps us get to know this young Swiss rider.

Cathy: Last year you were with Astana too?

Thomas: Yeah.

Cathy: What year did you turn professional?

Thomas: This is my 2nd year. Last year was my first year.

And Astana was your first professional team?

Yes.

What kind of rider are you? Sprinter? Climber? What do you like to do?

I like the time trial and climbing but not sprinting. The rest is ok. I won the Under 23 Hill Climb championships in 2006.

How old are you now?

I’m 23.

I first met you at camp in Albuquerque. What did you think of that area?

It was my first time in the U.S.A. It was a good area for training and with the police escorts it was perfect.

Personally I’d never heard of the police doing that before.

Yeah, in Switzerland you have problems with the police and here, they help you.

Yeah, it’s different. In America we don’t have so many teams so it’s a bigger deal.

Frei racing in Romandie

What are you favorite races? One day, stage, or Grand Tour?

Stage races. I haven’t done a Grand Tour. I’m a young rider.

But you like the races that are 4 or 5 days?

Yeah, and the Tour de Suisse at 10 days.

When did you first become a cyclist? What age were you?

I was 12.

Do you have family that’s in cycling?

No. My family is in music. I played 7 years of violin. I have sisters that sing.

A musical family?

Yes, a musical family. But my brother does triathlon and I go with him biking.

So you helped him train? You rode with him and he did the triathlon?

Yeah and that’s how I got interested in cycling.

Did you have someone in your school or your town to help you?

No, I’ve worked with my coach for 7 years.

Where do you live?

In Switzerland in Olten. It’s in the middle between Bern and Zurich.

Do you live with your family?

Yeah. I have 5 sisters and 3 brothers.

There are 9 kids?

Yes, 9 kids.

Wow, are you in the middle?

I’m in the middle.

That’s a big family. Is that fun?

Yeah. The oldest sister is 33 and the youngest is 12.

In America, you don’t meet very many big families anymore. Is it common in Switzerland?

It’s the same. There are not many. Four is a big family in Switzerland.

Have you loved being part of a big family?

Yeah, for me it’s ok. But I don’t want the same for myself. Too much stress, too much stress. All the little kids fighting. And my sister and brother have children and families so there are more of us.

Thomas races in his home country

What things are you trying to improve on as a cyclist? Are you trying to be a better time trialist? Do you have things that you’re working on with your coach to be better at?

I’m a young rider and I’m on one of the best teams in the World and I think I can learn.

From your teammates and in the races?

Yeah, and in the stages races I’ve been getting better and better.

You saw that you got better as the races went on? Your recovery was better.

Yeah.

If you weren’t a cyclist, what do you think you would do?

In Switzerland, after school, I learned about mechanics.

For cars, or boats or machine shop?

Yeah

A machinist?

Yeah a machinist, but I don’t know if I would be good at it.

You could be a violinist, a musician.

Since kindergarten, I’ve wanted to be a sportsman, that’s for sure.

What other sports to you like and what did you play growing up?

Ice Hockey.

So you’re a good skater?

Yeah. Wayne Gretsky was my idol.

You said you play the violin. Are you good?

I think so.

Do you still play now? Do you take lessons or practice?

No, I played from 8 to 15 or 16.

But now not so much?

It’s too much with cycling to play violin.

Not enough time?

Yeah.

Tell me something about yourself that most people don’t know about you, something that maybe only your good friends realize about you.

I have a big family, that’s the thing.