Walter Godefroot, 10-time Tour de France stage winner and iconic Telekom manager, passes away at 82
CyclingMonday, 01 September 2025 at 17:13
Belgium cycling is in mourning again. Just nine months after the passing of Rik Van Looy, the country now bids farewell to Walter Godefroot, who has died at the age of 82. Both a fierce competitor and a shrewd tactician, Godefroot’s influence spanned generations — first as a prolific Classics rider, then as one of the most successful and influential team managers of the modern era.
Born on July 2, 1943, Walter Godefroot announced himself to the cycling world with a bronze medal in the road race at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He turned professional the following year and made an immediate impact by winning the Belgian national championship, besting none other than Eddy Merckx — then a rising star himself.
From that moment on, Godefroot and Merckx would be locked in an unspoken rivalry. While Merckx’s shadow loomed large over that golden era, Godefroot carved out a palmarès that stood tall in its own right. He built his success on sheer power, tactical intelligence, and a deep love for the toughest races.
He conquered three of cycling’s five Monuments: Liège–Bastogne–Liège (1967), Paris–Roubaix (1969), and the Tour of Flanders twice (1968, 1978) — the latter coming at the remarkable age of 35. He also claimed 10 Tour de France stage victories, won the green points jersey in 1970, and stood atop the podium at Gent–Wevelgem (1968) and Bordeaux–Paris (1969, 1976). He sprinted, he suffered, and above all, he won — frequently and fiercely.
Read also
Architect of Dominance at Telekom
After retiring in 1979, Godefroot briefly stepped away from cycling, opening a bike shop with his wife in Deurle. But the sport’s gravitational pull proved too strong. He transitioned into team management, learning the ropes at Capri Sonne alongside a young Patrick Lefevere.
It was at Team Telekom, however, where Godefroot truly reshaped modern cycling. Taking over in 1991, he transformed the modest German outfit into a global powerhouse. Under his leadership, Telekom won the Tour de France twice — first with Bjarne Riis in 1996, then Jan Ullrich in 1997 — and became synonymous with elite cycling in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Yet this golden era came with a shadow. Telekom was later revealed to be deeply embedded in cycling’s widespread EPO era, and while many riders eventually spoke out, Godefroot remained mostly silent, his lips sealed even as books were written and confessions aired.
In recent years, Godefroot lived a more private life, gradually withdrawing from the public eye. But the legacy of Walter Godefroot is undeniable: a rider who stood tall in the age of Merckx, a tactician who built empires, and a man whose life mirrored the sport he loved — demanding, uncompromising, and at times, controversial.
Walter Godefroot – Career Highlights
As a Rider:
- Tour of Flanders: 2× (1968, 1978)
- Paris–Roubaix: 1× (1969)
- Liège–Bastogne–Liège: 1× (1967)
- Gent–Wevelgem: 1× (1968)
- Tour de France: 10 stage wins, Points Classification (1970)
- Vuelta a España: 2 stage wins
- Giro d’Italia: 1 stage win
- Belgian National Champion: 2× (1965, 1972)
As a Manager:
- Tour de France Wins: 1996 (Riis), 1997 (Ullrich)
- Vuelta a España Wins: 1999 (Ullrich), 2006 (Vinokourov)
- Monument Wins: Ronde van Vlaanderen 2004 (Wesemann) Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2005 (Vinokourov) Milan–Sanremo 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 (Zabel)
- Ronde van Vlaanderen 2004 (Wesemann)
- Liège–Bastogne–Liège 2005 (Vinokourov)
- Milan–Sanremo 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 (Zabel)
🏆 L'immense palmarès du regretté Walter Godefroot 🇧🇪
— Cyclisme Belge 🇧🇪 (@LeCyclismebelge) September 1, 2025
61 victoires dont :
🇨🇵 10x étapes du Tour de France
🇧🇪 2x Tour des Flandres
🇪🇦 2x étapes de la Vuelta
🇮🇹 1x étape du Giro
🇨🇵 Paris-Roubaix
🇧🇪 Liège-Bastogne-Liège
🇧🇪 Gand Wevelgem
🇧🇪 2x Champion de Belgique (2x devant Merckx) pic.twitter.com/O3sLUy6L6S
claps 5visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- What does he need to pay Pogi to lead him out?Veganpotter04-12-2025
- Ayuso is not a surprise if you look at his previous 5yrs.Veganpotter04-12-2025
- What do you mean?BenAflec04-12-2025
- Just making the note that it’s actually closer to 120 because most of it is consumed in the first 4 hrs, not evenly across 5 hrs up until the finish.crharnishphd04-12-2025
- WVA dropped TP and his bad knee.Cyclingnut04-12-2025
- Everyone shouts "rider x" is getting better and could beat Pogacar... Tadej is still improving year on year too.....slappers6604-12-2025
- It's not a big blow for Pogacar. Today, Pogacar relies on a close, increasingly Slovenian circle of experts. Among them, the central figure is his longtime friend Ziga Jerman, who took on the role of masseur in 2025. Jerman has known Pogačar since before his global fame, when they cycled together at the Ljubljana club Rog, so Elguezabal’s departure does not pose a threat for Pogi but rather marks the end of a very successful chapter. UAE will have to fill the gap in its professional staff, but for Pogi, this departure will not play an important role.NikkoNicco04-12-2025
- OK, enough of this BS. No one went to college or university from kindergarten. First, Remco must graduate from high school with excellent results to meet with the professor Pogacar in university and to be in same room with him. But you see, Pogi the Great also has a PhD (doctorate in cycling). In 2026, I want to see that success from Remco in high school, because I haven't seen it in these 7 years.NikkoNicco04-12-2025
- calling him a star in cross before he beats MVDP or WVA is also a big stretch.mij04-12-2025
- I think once he's the undisputed leader in a race, he can become more consistent than he was in the past.Ride197404-12-2025
Loading
Write a comment