German cycling is mourning the loss of one of its greatest: Rolf Wolfshohl died on Wednesday at the age of 85.
This was announced by the German Cycling Association. The Cologne native celebrated his greatest victories at the Tour of Spain in 1965 and at Paris-Nice in 1968. Wolfshohl was also three times world champion in cyclo-cross.
But it was his appearances at the Tour de France that brought Wolfshohl fame. In 1968, he rode for two days in the yellow jersey, but lost it after a fall.
Sixth place was ultimately his best Tour placing. In 1967 and 1970, “Le Loup” (the wolf), as the French called the aggressive German, won a stage each.
Wolfshohl, recipient of the Federal Cross of Merit, ended his career in 1973. In his final years, he struggled with health problems.
The early death of his son Rolf-Dieter, who was also a cyclist and was paraplegic after a fall at the 1984 German Championships, in 2011 hit him hard, as did the death of his daughter.
Source: www.sport.de
