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Supporting Swiss Cycling Talent: Q36.5 & Sporthilfe Partnership

Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is a Swiss-registered professional cycling team with a strong partner network, including major Swiss brands like Breitling, UBS, and Mercedes Benz Zug. We have two talented Swiss riders on the roster: Fabio Christen and Matteo Badilatti.

We are proud to support Swiss cycling talent through Sporthilfe, including 60 Foundation athletes and 60 Parenthood athletes, as well as the national Q36.5‑Amacx cycling team. This way, we contribute to Swiss cycling from the bottom up — because no one ever builds a house from the roof down.

14 July 2025

Guido Schwendemann, who leads this programme, explains how Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team supports Swiss riders:

“When the Pro Team started in 2023, we also began our cooperation with Sporthilfe in Switzerland. Young athletes don’t receive government support here like in other countries. Sporthilfe was founded in 1970 and supports many sports. In cycling, the target group are the most talented athletes aged 15–19. If they succeed, they receive the Swiss Olympic Talent Card National. With this card, they qualify as a Sporthilfe Parenthood athlete.

We wanted to focus on the young riders within Sporthilfe’s Parenthood structure. Individuals can support an athlete with a fixed annual amount via Sporthilfe. We elected to support 60 young cyclists and build relationships with them and their families.

Besides financial support, we organise several events for them at the Q36.5 shop in Zurich, at the Tour de Suisse, and at a training camp with the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. Last but not least, we host the Sporthilfe Super10Kampf with their parents. We also provide discounts in the Q36.5 and Amacx online stores.”

Our support doesn’t end there. Internationally successful athletes over 19 receive Gold, Silver, or Bronze Cards from Swiss Olympic. Each year, Q36.5 supports 60 of these Sporthilfe Foundation athletes with financial support to help them pursue international titles like the Olympic Games or World Championships.

Beyond the 60 Parenthood and 60 Foundation athletes, we’re investing in the national Q36.5‑Amacx team racing in the U19 and U23 categories across Switzerland and neighbouring countries.

“Together with Q36.5, Amacx, and Sporthilfe, we launched the national Q36.5‑Amacx Swiss Cyclist Next Generation project this year, focusing on some junior riders we know through Sporthilfe,” Guido adds.

“For a pro team, it’s crucial to have a direct link to the U23 development club team rooted in Switzerland. This is how we invest in future Swiss talent and hopefully welcome them to the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team.

They can join the pro team at a training camp, and we support them with training information, nutrition advice from Amacx, and they ride the 2024 Scott team bikes in training and races. We share performance insights with the pro team coaching staff. We hope this pathway builds homegrown talent we can one day welcome to the pro team.”

One rider supported via Sporthilfe and the Q36.5‑Amacx team is Jann Salm, a 17‑year‑old from Brittnau, Aargau. A first‑year junior competing in both road and track cycling.

“I started cycling because of my father, who does triathlon,” he explains. “We always watched the Tour de France together. At 11 or 12, I wanted to start, so we bought a bike. What started as one ride a week became serious – I joined VC Pfaffnau‑Roggliswil in Luzern and did my first race in U15. I finished last, but it motivated me to improve. I became stronger in the following years.”

Jann excels on short, punchy climbs and in time trials. He claimed his first junior win earlier this year in GP Cham‑Hagendorn, demonstrating his progress. He also rides for the Swiss track cycling team. Sporthilfe helped him join the Q36.5‑Amacx club team as one of three first‑year juniors.

“When the Pro Team started in 2023, we also began our cooperation with Sporthilfe in Switzerland. Young athletes don’t receive government support here like in other countries.”

“Guido contacted me through my Sporthilfe profile,” Jann says. “In November 2024 he called and said they were starting a team and asked if I’d join. Of course I agreed!

I’ve already learned lots. Previously, my dad supported me, but now we have a sports director explaining tactics. At nationals, our DS Oli Behringer said the course suited the breakaway – and I agreed. It worked well. We also had soigneurs handing bottles and nutrition. Taking bottles from support is trickier than I thought, but I’m learning so much.”

Jann splits his time between business school, a part‑time job at Velux, training, and racing. His dream is clear: to turn pro with Q36.5.

“The pro riders inspire me. I met David de la Cruz and Gianluca Brambilla in Zurich before the Tour de Suisse and it was amazing. It connects us – seeing them ride for the same brands motivates me. I hope to move from Sporthilfe and Q36.5‑Amacx to the pro team one day and chase races like Paris‑Roubaix and Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège.”

“I’ve already learned lots. Previously, my dad supported me, but now we have a sports director explaining tactics. At nationals, our DS Oli Behringer said the course suited the breakaway – and I agreed. It worked well. We also had soigneurs handing bottles and nutrition.”