The former British Cycling coach Heiko Salzwedel has died.
Riders and colleagues who worked with Salzwedel during his three stints with the British Olympic team have paid tribute, including gold medallists Callum Skinner and Owain Doull, as well as performance director Stephen Park.
German media reports that Salzwedel’s death was confirmed on Thursday (September 30). He was 64 years old and leaves behind a wife and two children.
After beginning his coaching career in Germany in the 1990s, Salzwedel worked as the national coach for Australia, Denmark, Russia, and Switzerland.
Some of his biggest successes came during his time with British Cycling, where he worked from 2001-2002, 2008-12, and finally from 2014-18.
After his departure from British Cycling in 2019, Salzwedel worked as a regional trainer for the Brandenburg Cycling Association.
During his time as the men’s endurance coach for the Great Britain Cycling Team, Salzwedel helped guide the GB team pursuit squad to gold in Rio 2016 with Sir Bradley Wiggins, Ed Clancy, Steven Burke and Owain Doull.
Doull, who has since gone on to a successful WorldTour career on the road, said: “Heartbroken to hear the news of Heiko’s passing.
“His loyalty and commitment to ‘his boys’ was a mark of his character. He was one of the first coaches who believed in my potential, and for this I will always be grateful.
“Thoughts are with his friends and family. RIP Heiko.”
But his influence was also felt outside the men’s endurance team, as retired sprinter and gold medallist Callum Skinner said: “It wasn’t just his own boys (endurance). I loved this guy.
“A maverick who didn’t always fit with the British Cycling box culture (in a good way).
“Embodied one of my favourite quotes: ‘never do a job you aren’t prepared to lose’.
“The most hired and fired man at BC. Legend, RIP.”
Stephen Park, the current BC performance director, said: “It has been very sad to hear of the passing of Heiko Salzwedel.
“He worked [with] and influenced many riders and coaches at GBCT and around the world.
“British Cycling sends our condolences to all who knew him.”
Alex is the digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter and now as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output.
Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) and joining CW in 2018, Alex has covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.
Away from journalism, Alex is a national level time triallist, avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
-
Seven men jailed for stealing bikes worth £70k from Rutland Cycling shop
Police caught the gang of thieves who had stolen 23 bikes from the chain store in Grafham Water
By Ryan Dabbs •
-
These are all the teams applying for WorldTeam and Women’s WorldTeam status next year
Qhubeka-NextHash miss the first deadline, as five women’s teams apply to step up to the top level
By Alex Ballinger •
-
British Cycling staff carried out unauthorised doping tests in 2011, investigation confirms
The World Anti-Doping Agency has released its report into alleged wrongdoing at British Cycling and UK Anti-Doping
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Rapha and British Cycling team up to create 'City Academies' diversity fund
This new initiative is said to be integral to British Cycling's push to make the sport more inclusive
By Jonny Long •
-
British cycling and its biggest riders taking on the Government is a major deal
Britons can only spend three months within any six month period in an EU country
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
New British Cycling campaign hopes to reinvigorate grassroots bike racing
The national governing body says that millions of adults are ready to start racing
By Alex Ballinger •
-
European Track Championships cancelled after ‘hijacking’ of Ryanair flight in Belarus
The European Championships were the last major event before the Tokyo Olympics
By Alex Ballinger •
-
British Cycling concerned about ‘substantial breach of privacy’ over Dame Sarah Storey’s backdated TUE for salbutamol
The governing body said it is worried about how the revelation could impact athletes who require medical treatment
By Alex Ballinger •
-
British Cycling joins social media boycott to protest online abuse towards athletes
British Cycling will join the upcoming social media boycott to protest the online abuse athletes face.
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Richard Freeman permanently struck off over testosterone delivery
Richard Freeman has been permanently struck off after ordering a testosterone package delivered to British Cycling headquarters in 2011.
By Alex Ballinger •
