The German Cycling Federation announced the death of six-time world champion Michael Hubner (65 years old).

Hubner died in hospital in Saxony following a sudden illness, and the news was confirmed on Tuesday.

The track cycling legend was known for his fame in sprint events during the 1990s, as he garnered numerous accolades.

She later became a mentor to top athletes in the sport, including two-time Olympic champion Kristina Vogel, who paid tribute to her former boss.

“This shocks us all,” Vogel told German newspaper Bild. ‘You have no words, you don’t know what to say. He was a sprint legend.

German track cycling legend Michael Hubner passes away in Saxony, aged 65

Hubner wins six world titles in a sparkling run in track sprint racing

Hubner mentored two-time Olympic champion Kristina Vogel, who paid tribute to him.

‘He, Lutz Hesslich and Jens Fiedler were the ones who made sprinting big in Germany.’

During his illustrious career, Hubner won two world titles in the individual sprint, one in the team sprint and three in the Keirin.

He is also known for breaking the men’s 200 meter time trial world record in 1986, a record he held for a year.

In 1997, Hubner decided to retire from professional competition. However, his influence on sports will continue.

Working as a senior executive in the cycling industry, Hubner met Vogel and other Olympic champions such as Lea Friedrich and Maximilian Levy.

He was the sports director of the TheedProjekt-Cycling athletics team until 2022, where he mentored multiple stars.

Hubner is survived by his two sons and leaves behind a legacy in sports that will be remembered by many.