Karl-Heinz Kunde

Karl -Heinz customer ( born January 6, 1938 in Cologne ) is a retired German racing cyclist, who was known as a climbing specialist and " mountain flea ".

Sports career

Karl -Heinz customer began his cycling career in the men's field in 1959. This year he had with the 4th place in the German road championship his best result. In 1960 he made ​​the first time nationally at the Tour of Austria attention, won a stage and finished seventh as the best German in the overall standings. His first championship title in the men's field he won in 1961 by winning the German Amateur Championship road. In the same year he also participated in the Tour de l' Avenir, which he also finished as the best German in 4th place. He had less success in the road World Championships, where he retired after just two rounds.

With a contract with the German cycling team Afri Cola - Rabeneick of only 1.60 m wide customer in 1962 joined the professional paddock. After a year without sports highlights customer celebrated winning the 1963 German Hillclimb Championship. He repeated this success again in 1970. During the Tour de Luxembourg 1963 he took a stage win, but was only 14th in the overall standings. In the Belgian one-day races Flèche Wallonne he was 41

In 1964 he participated in the large cycling events road Cycling Championships and the Tour de France. While he retired prematurely at the World Championships, he came in his Tour debut on the 16th Place. The Road World Championships took customer little luck. He went up to eight times, but managed to place only twice. In 1965, he was an excellent 5th, 1968 13 At the Tour de France customer participated six times, left twice and had prematurely in 1966 with 9th place, the best result when he five days wore the yellow jersey.

The scoring also to the itinerary classics Giro d' Italia appeared customer only 1968 in the final classification on when he came in 24th place. However, he can point at the Tour de Suisse 1968-1972 on four placements. The 10th rank in 1968 was about the best result. In the last years of his career, customer involved in three of the four spring classics: 1972 Liege -Bastogne- Liege ( 25 ), 1973 Paris -Roubaix ( 19 ) and Milan - Sanremo 1973 ( 86 ).

In addition to his activities in road cycling undertook customer trips to the promise of cross- port. Among other things, he started at the cross country championships in 1969 and 1972, where he held the positions 18 and 21 occupied. In the German Cross Championship he won 1969-1973 two second places and one third place. Its versatility proved customer with the start at several Six Days.

After the 1973 season in the German HA -RO Team finished its customer cycling career. He now operates in Cologne a cycling shop.

Important placements

Cycling team

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