Switzerland’s Ralph Näf is one of a select number of mountain bikers in the world who regularly are in contention for victories on an international level. In 2009’s season, he made it to the podium of a Worldcup race four times and he also won the European championships. After he had been considered as one of the top favourites for the World championships, an elbow injury he suffered in the run-up to the Worlds kept him from competing. Näf has become one of the world’s most consistent riders, which also shows in his fourth-place-position in the World ranking. For the «Multivan Merida Biking Team», he’s a safe bet for podium finishes at international championships. At home the family bliss increased once more in December 2009 as he became a father of a son for the second time.