Looking back: Spectator spectacle Fourcross - Worldcupper Guido Tschugg remembers

Guido Tschugg: "I had a lot of second and third places, finished second overall in 2008 and was on the podium in every race that year - that was my best year. But my greatest moment was definitely winning the World Cup in Scotland in 2004. The feeling of winning a World Cup is priceless and unbeatable. The gold medal from Scotland is in a doctor's cabinet. Years ago, I bought old metal display cases from my uncle the doctor. Instead of formaldehyde, bone saw and ointment, my fourcross medals are now behind glass. In 2011, the UCI dropped the fourcross discipline from the programme. For me, this is totally incomprehensible, because no format is more exciting, spectator-friendly and telegenic than fourcross. Four guys, a course full of jumps and bends and one winner - could it get any more exciting? In contrast, the Enduro World Cup is a media nightmare - the audience doesn't realise what's happening where. Fourcross is different. However, the UCI argued at the time that it was too expensive to prepare the courses - in my opinion this was a weak argument, as the fourcross courses already existed at the World Cup venues. There was little need to rebuild them, they just needed a slight reshape. I particularly remember the course in Andorra. It was spectacular with really fat jumps that only four or five riders in the entire World Cup field jumped. I was top 10 in the world rankings for ten years. That makes me the most successful German fourcross rider. But I've been wearing my Red Bull helmet since 1998, when Red Bull sponsored the NPJ team. In it: Nils-Peter Jensen, who gave the team its name, André Wagenknecht, Ralf Schupp and me. We all got the helmet, but the team disbanded after a year. At that point, I was already racing World Cup dual slalom, came second in 1998 and was runner-up in the European Championships - I was allowed to keep my helmet.

For a while, I even rode both downhill and fourcross. I came eighth in a downhill World Cup - that was my best result. But it was my participation in the Red Bull Rampage (2004, 2008) that made me known outside the racing scene and gave my professional career an extra boost. When Rampage organiser Todd Barber wanted to set up a monster cross in Livigno together with Red Bull, I was hooked. Six riders were to race over a course of motocross-style jumps. That would have been great and totally my thing. Unfortunately, this super race never materialised. I toyed with the idea of organising the monstercross on my own. I would start with downhill bikes. I could build the course myself, because I have the necessary skills as a trail builder. Let's see, maybe it will happen."

Guido Tschugg (48)

Fourcross, downhill, freeride, slopestyle, urban: Tschugg has tried everything, shines in all disciplines and has been able to celebrate successes. The Allgäu native is still the only German Rampage participant (!). Guido took part in the super competition in 2004 and 2008, but never got the points he actually deserved in the American competition. Tschugg recognised the potential of e-bikes early on and became an ambassador. Today, Guido lives with his wife and children on Lake Chiemsee, develops products, builds mountain bike trails and is so passionate about motocross that he is a familiar visitor to emergency rooms.

In 2011, the UCI dropped the fourcross discipline from the programme. I find this totally incomprehensible, because no format is more exciting than fourcross. - Guido Tschugg