Michael Hübner (†65): German cycling mourns the loss of the seven-time world champion

Michael Hübner is dead. The 65-year-old died today in the hospital in his hometown of Chemnitz, the Association of German Cyclists (BDR) announced, citing Hübner’s close environment. As “Bild” reports, the former track cycling world champion succumbed to multiple organ failure. Hübner had been ill for a long time and had been in the hospital for three days.

“This shocks us all. You’re speechless. You don’t even know what to say. He is a sprint legend. He, Lutz Heßlich and Jens Fiedler were the ones who made sprinting big in Germany,” said Olympic champion Kristina Vogel to “Bild”.

Although Hübner was denied participation in the Olympics during his career, the sprinter was one of the most successful track riders in the world in the 1990s. After reunification, the Saxon celebrated three world championship titles in keirin (1990 to 1992), two in sprint (1990 and 1992) and one in team sprint (1995). He also won a world championship title as an amateur sprinter (1986). In the last year of his career, he won World Championship silver and the German championship title in the team sprint alongside his close friend Jens Fiedler.

National coach pays tribute to Hübner

Hübner ended his career in 1997. Until 2022, the man from Chemnitz served as sporting director of the track cycling team Theed Projekt Cycling (formerly Team Natural Gas), which included greats such as Kristina Vogel, Maximilian Levy, Lea Sophie Friedrich and his son Sascha Hübner. Hübner leaves behind two sons.

National coach Jan van Eijden told “Bild”: “A father figure for me in cycling. That really takes me away. He always said that he lived so intensely that it was enough for two lifetimes, but he still left far too soon. Being taken away from your life at 65 is anything but nice. A close friend who unfortunately is no longer going on the trip. He was one of the greats.”