Seven-time track cycling world champion Hübner dies

Former track cycling world champion Michael Hübner is dead. The 65-year-old died today in hospital in his hometown of Chemnitz, the German Cycling Federation (BDR) announced, citing people close to Hübner.

“This shocks us all. We are 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 great in Germany,” Olympic champion Kristina Vogel told Bild.

One of the most successful track riders in the world

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

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