Biography of Emanuel Raasch

Emanuel "Emu" Raasch (born 16 November 1955 in Burg bei Magdeburg; died 22 May 2026 in Berlin) was a German track cyclist and coach. He competed for East Germany and later for reunified Germany, won several World Championship medals in sprint and kilometre events, and became tandem World Champion with Eyk Pokorny in Stuttgart in 1991. After his active career he remained close to track cycling as a coach and as part of the Berlin cycling community.

Beginnings and Dynamo years

Raasch was born in Burg bei Magdeburg. He began cycling at the age of 14 with BSG Einheit Genthin. A year later he moved to SC Dynamo Magdeburg and later rode for SC Dynamo Berlin. Even in youth categories he won Spartakiad events and East German junior titles. His direction was clear early on: track cycling, short distances, sprinting, force from a standing start and exact timing on the wooden track.

Sprinter on the winter track

In the 1970s Raasch became one of the notable East German track sprinters. On 10 July 1975 he won the East German title in the 1,000-metre time trial in Leipzig. On 23 January 1977 he became East German sprint champion at Berlin's Werner-Seelenbinder-Halle. That hall was more than a venue for him: in Berlin he became a favourite with spectators because his track races were shaped by direct duels and late decisions.

World Championship medals and competition

Internationally Raasch stayed close to the top level for many years. From 1975 to 1996 he competed at eleven World Championships and returned with medals from seven of them. His record included several World Championship silver and bronze medals in sprint and 1,000-metre events. His career unfolded amid strong competition with riders such as Lutz Heßlich and Michael Hübner. Raasch did not compete at the Olympic Games; his international importance was built above all on the World Championship track.

The Stuttgart title

After German reunification, Raasch reached another major sporting peak. At the 1991 Track World Championships in Stuttgart he won the tandem world title with Eyk Pokorny. Olympedia names this title as Pokorny's greatest success, and UPI reported on 18 August 1991 that the German tandem pair of Raasch and Pokorny had won the event. For Raasch it was the moment in which years of near misses in individual events were joined by a world title.

Coach and later years

After the end of his active career, Raasch worked as a coach, including at RSV Werner-Otto. Robert Förstemann and Dana Glöß were among the athletes he coached. Later Raasch also worked as a hall attendant at the Sportforum in Berlin-Hohenschönhausen. He also stayed active outside cycling: he took up bodybuilding and won a German title in the over-50 category in 2011. A small role in Run Lola Run is another known side note, without shifting the centre of his life: the track, training and the Berlin cycling community.

Farewell

Emanuel Raasch died in Berlin on 22 May 2026 after a severe illness. He was 70 years old. The Berliner Radsport Verband honoured him as a former tandem World Champion, multiple World Championship medallist and coach. His name stands for the speed and closeness of the track, and also for the people he continued to guide after his own racing career.