Rudi Altig, German cyclist, Died at 79

  Sports

Rudi Altig was born on March 18, 1937, and died on June 11, 2016.

He was a German professional track and road racing cyclist.

Rudi was the winner of the 1962 Vuelta a España and the world championship in 1966.

Following his retirement from sports he worked as a television commentator.

Altig started racing in 1952, after his older brother, Willi.

The brothers teamed up together for madison and other two-man races, becoming the best in the country.

Jim Wallace, the British promoter, booked Rudi to ride with Hans Jaroszewicz at a meeting on Herne Hill velodrome in Good Friday in 1956.

He was given the permission by the Union Cycliste Internationale to up his title has professional in 1960, within a year of his world championship.

Rudi when on to ride his first professional six-day, in Denmark, that same winter.

Rudi won the world pursuit championship in 1960 and 1961 and won 62 races on the track.

Rudi Altig won 22 six-day races, particularly in Germany, including four in Cologne and Dortmund.

He started his professional career as a track rider; it was Raphaël Géminiani who persuaded him his future was on the road.

Altig agreed because fame on the road would give him better contracts on the track.

Rudi Altig won the Vuelta a España and three of its stages in 1962.

Rudi Altig was maillot Jaune for five days in his first Tour de France that same season, winning three stages and the points competition, and finishing 31st.

Rudi Altig won his first classic in 1964, the Tour of Flanders after riding 60 km alone and winning by four minutes.

Rudi Altig passed away at 79 yrs old.