Udo Bölts
Encyclopedia
Udo Bölts in Rodalben
is a retired German
racing cyclist, the brother of Hartmut Bölts.
Bölts is one of the most successful German cyclists, and from the beginning of his career he distinguished himself as a coureageous rider who liked to get into breakaways. Bölts began his professional career in 1989 with Team Stuttgart, from which Team Telekom were formed in 1991.
From 1992 to 2003, Bölts took part in twelve consecutive Tours de France
, arriving in Paris
on every occasion, both of which feats are German records. His best placing in the hardest stage race in the world was in 1994
, when he was ninth. In 1996 and 1997, he was an important helper of teammates and eventual winners of the Tour, Bjarne Riis
and Jan Ullrich
. During the 1997 Tour
, he was noted for the words he shouted to Ullrich when the latter was about to crack: Quäl dich, du Sau! (force yourself, you sod!).
After Bölts had taken part in the Ironman Hawaii event with little preparation, his team chief of many years, Walter Godefroot
, said: "Bölts is strong, he never breaks down".
Some of his greatest victories include three German road national titles (1990-1995-1999), the Clásica de San Sebastián
in 1996 or a stage win at the 1992 Giro d'Italia
. He also is the only German rider to have won the Dauphiné Libéré
, which he did in 1997, a year in which he was also fourth in the World Cycling Championships.
For his last season as a professional, Bölts moved to Team Gerolsteiner
. After he retired in 2004, he became one of the team's directeurs sportif, and is responsible for race preparations, strategies and contacts with other teams and cyclists.
During the Tour de France 2006, he was an assistant commentator for German TV channel ZDF
.
In the wake of the 2007 Team T-Mobile scandal Bölts confessed publicly on May 23 having used EPO
and growth hormones in preparation for the Tour the France 1996, continuing with the practise in 1997. In consequence of this Bölts resigned as the sports director of Team Gerolsteiner
on May 24, 2007.
1992
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Rodalben
Rodalben is a municipality in the Südwestpfalz district, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated in the Palatinate forest, approx. 5 km northeast of Pirmasens.Rodalben is the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde Rodalben....
is a retired German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
racing cyclist, the brother of Hartmut Bölts.
Bölts is one of the most successful German cyclists, and from the beginning of his career he distinguished himself as a coureageous rider who liked to get into breakaways. Bölts began his professional career in 1989 with Team Stuttgart, from which Team Telekom were formed in 1991.
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, arriving in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on every occasion, both of which feats are German records. His best placing in the hardest stage race in the world was in 1994
1994 Tour de France
The 1994 Tour de France was the 81st Tour de France and included two stages in England , Stage 4, Dover to Brighton and Stage 5, around Portsmouth. It took place July 2 to July 24, 1994...
, when he was ninth. In 1996 and 1997, he was an important helper of teammates and eventual winners of the Tour, Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Lykkegård Riis , nicknamed The Eagle from Herning , is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who placed first in the 1996 Tour de France, and is now the team owner and manager of Danish UCI ProTour outfit Team Saxo Bank Sungard...
and Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich
Jan Ullrich is a German former professional road bicycle racer. In 1997, he was the first German to win the Tour de France. He went on to take five second places and a fourth in 2004 and third in 2005. He is considered one of the best time-trialists in the history of the sport...
. During the 1997 Tour
1997 Tour de France
The 1997 Tour de France was the 84th Tour de France, it took place July 5–27, 1997. Jan Ullrich's victory margin, of 9' 09" was the largest margin of victory since Laurent Fignon won the 1984 Tour de France by 10' 32"...
, he was noted for the words he shouted to Ullrich when the latter was about to crack: Quäl dich, du Sau! (force yourself, you sod!).
After Bölts had taken part in the Ironman Hawaii event with little preparation, his team chief of many years, Walter Godefroot
Walter Godefroot
Walter Godefroot is a retired Belgian professional road bicycle racer and former directeur sportif of , later known as T-Mobile Team, professional team....
, said: "Bölts is strong, he never breaks down".
Some of his greatest victories include three German road national titles (1990-1995-1999), the Clásica de San Sebastián
Clásica de San Sebastián
The Donostia-Donostia Klasikoa - Clásica San Sebastián-San Sebastián is a cycle race that has been held every summer since 1981 in San Sebastián, Spain...
in 1996 or a stage win at the 1992 Giro d'Italia
1992 Giro d'Italia
The 1992 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 75th edition of the race, was held from 24 May to 14 June 1992. It covered a total of 3,835 km, in 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 37.017 km/h...
. He also is the only German rider to have won the Dauphiné Libéré
Dauphiné Libéré
The Critérium du Dauphiné is an annual cycling road race, run over eight stages in the Dauphiné region in France during the first half of June. The race was inaugurated by a local newspaper, the Dauphiné Libéré, which gave its name to the event...
, which he did in 1997, a year in which he was also fourth in the World Cycling Championships.
For his last season as a professional, Bölts moved to Team Gerolsteiner
Team Gerolsteiner
Gerolsteiner was a German road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. It was sponsored by the mineral water company Gerolsteiner Brunnen and Specialized....
. After he retired in 2004, he became one of the team's directeurs sportif, and is responsible for race preparations, strategies and contacts with other teams and cyclists.
During the Tour de France 2006, he was an assistant commentator for German TV channel ZDF
ZDF
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
.
In the wake of the 2007 Team T-Mobile scandal Bölts confessed publicly on May 23 having used EPO
Erythropoietin
Erythropoietin, or its alternatives erythropoetin or erthropoyetin or EPO, is a glycoprotein hormone that controls erythropoiesis, or red blood cell production...
and growth hormones in preparation for the Tour the France 1996, continuing with the practise in 1997. In consequence of this Bölts resigned as the sports director of Team Gerolsteiner
Team Gerolsteiner
Gerolsteiner was a German road bicycle racing team in the UCI ProTour. It was sponsored by the mineral water company Gerolsteiner Brunnen and Specialized....
on May 24, 2007.
Palmares
1990
German road race champion- Herald Sun TourHerald Sun TourThe Herald Sun Tour is an Australian professional bicycle race held in Melbourne and provincial Victoria sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale . The first tour was held in October 1952 as a six day event and it is held annually in October. It is named after the Herald Sun, Melbourne's...
1992
- Stage at the Giro d'ItaliaGiro d'ItaliaThe Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
- Stage at the Vuelta al País Vasco
1994
- 9th place at the Tour de FranceTour de FranceThe Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
- Rund um KölnRund um KölnThe Rund um Köln is a classic cycling race which is based around the German city of Cologne. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI Europe Tour, being organised as 1.1 race . It is one of the oldest cycling races still running in Germany, just after Rund um die Hainleite, which was first held in 1908...
- 2 stages at the Herald Sun TourHerald Sun TourThe Herald Sun Tour is an Australian professional bicycle race held in Melbourne and provincial Victoria sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale . The first tour was held in October 1952 as a six day event and it is held annually in October. It is named after the Herald Sun, Melbourne's...
1995
- German road race champion
1996
- Clásica de San SebastiánClásica de San SebastiánThe Donostia-Donostia Klasikoa - Clásica San Sebastián-San Sebastián is a cycle race that has been held every summer since 1981 in San Sebastián, Spain...
- 1 stage at the Tour de SuisseTour de SuisseThe Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
1997
- Dauphiné LibéréDauphiné LibéréThe Critérium du Dauphiné is an annual cycling road race, run over eight stages in the Dauphiné region in France during the first half of June. The race was inaugurated by a local newspaper, the Dauphiné Libéré, which gave its name to the event...
- GP Kanton Aargau
- 4th place at the World Cycling ChampionshipWorld Cycling ChampionshipThe UCI Road World Championships, often referred to as the World Cycling Championships, is the annual world championship for bicycle road racing organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale . The UCI Road World Championships include championships for elite men's road race and individual time trial...
- Colmar-Strasbourg
1998
- GP Wallonnie
- 1 stage at the Euskal BizikletaEuskal BizikletaEuskal Bizikleta is an annual cycling stage race held in the Basque Country in June. Since 2005, the race has been organized as a 2.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour....
- Karlsruhe Pairs Time Trial
1999
- German road race champion
2000
- 1 stage at the Deutschland TourDeutschland TourThe Deutschland Tour was the most important multi-stage road bicycle race in Germany. Initially the race was held in May/June. Since 2005 it is part of the UCI ProTour and has been moved to August...
; 3rd overall
See also
- List of doping cases in cycling
- List of sportspeople sanctioned for doping offences