Inside the Team: Cannondale’s Manuel Fumic
What does it take to make a champion? Find out in our interview with professional cross-country racer Manuel Fumic.
On the World’s fastest Cross-Country MTB team, Manuel “Mani” Fumic is Cannondale Factory Racing’s O.G. Hailing from Germany, Fumic brings his unique personality and winning style to the squad. The 38-year-old also brings a wealth of success with him – winner of the 2018 Brazil Ride with teammate Henrique Avancini; winner of the 2019 Tankwa Trek, also with teammate Henrique Avancini; 2019 Absa Cape Epic stage winner and second place podium with Henrique again, oh and a former U23 World Champion. Not only that, but Mani is also a four-time German National Champion and a four-time Olympian – it goes without saying that Mani is the foundation on which Cannondale Factory Racing is built.
Welcome to part one of our new series Inside the Team, which delves behind the scenes of the world’s fastest cross-country mountain bike team – we caught up with Mani for a quick chat at training camp right before an unprecedented global pandemic impacted the mountain bike race season, and the entire world along with it.
Hi Mani, so what did you do to relax during this off-season?
MF: Spending time with my family and my three kids.
What do you like most about being at a team camp?
MF: It’s a group of good people coming together, highly motivated to support each other to achieve individual and team goals.
What do you like the least about being at a team camp?
MF: The 5:30am wakeup calls!
Manuel “Mani” Fumic
What is one thing people not inside the team should know that they don’t know today?
MF: There is a new... I tell you maybe tomorrow… haha!
What did you work on the most this off-season?
MF: Working on my mind set. Marginal gains make the difference.
What do you want to work on at camp?
MF: Putting the final pieces of the puzzle together, that I've been working on the last three months.
What does the average day look like for you at team camp?
MF: Breakfast. Coffee stop. Activation in the Gym. Training on the bike. Lunch. Physio treatment. Coffee stop. Gym workout. Dinner.
Kenta Gallagher (left) - Technical Coach & Andreas “Andi” Pscheidl (right) - Head Mechanic
What are you most excited about for the 2020 season?
MF: It will be my last season. To be honest, I’m super excited and enjoying every day on my bike and with the team.
What race is your favorite on the 2020 calendar?
MF: The World Championships on home soil in Albstadt, Germany.
Who is the most influential person in your career and why?
MF: Credit to all the good people I have met while I was traveling all around the world in the last twenty years of racing. They all made me get this far.
Where is the one place in the world you have not been that you would like to go?
MF: Somewhere on top of big mountains, the Alps, Himalayas or Rocky Mountains. I love mountains!
Who would you take with you?
MF: My wife and kids…
From history, who would you most like to have beer with? And why?
MF: Nikola Tesla. Drinking a cold one and talking about E-Bikes…
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