Biography of Günter Haritz

Günter Haritz (born 16 October 1948 in Heidelberg; died 29 October 2025) was a German track and road cyclist. At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich he won gold with the West German team in the 4,000-metre team pursuit.

From football to cycling

Haritz grew up in Leimen and first played football. As a teenager he moved into cycling. The track became his central terrain early on: rhythm, teamwork and controlled pace were central there, and these qualities later shaped his career.

Team pursuit

In the team pursuit, Haritz rode in the West German squad of the early 1970s. In 1970 he became world champion with the team; in 1972 he followed this with Olympic gold in Munich alongside Jürgen Colombo, Udo Hempel and Günther Schumacher. In 1973 he again won the world title in the discipline.

Professional on track and road

After his amateur years, Haritz continued as a professional. He won the German road title in 1974, started in major stage races and remained especially successful on the track. In six-day races he often reached the podium and, according to Olympedia, won eleven of those events.

Leimen and cycling

After his racing career, Haritz stayed connected to cycling. In Leimen he ran a bicycle shop from 1981 and passed on his experience to recreational riders and younger cyclists. The town made him an honorary citizen; regional obituaries described him as a lasting part of local sports history.

Farewell

Günter Haritz died on 29 October 2025 after cancer. He was 77 years old. His name remains connected with Olympic gold in Munich, world titles in team pursuit and cycling in Leimen.