Cycling in Saarland (1947 to 1956)

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Cycling in Saarland (1947 to 1956) describes a historical section in the history of cycling in Saarland, which was partially autonomous from 1947 to 1956 .

Cycling in Saarland (1947 to 1956)

After the Second World War , Saarland became a semi-autonomous state with its own constitution and citizenship in 1947 , also in terms of sports politics. Saarland took part in the 1952 Summer Olympics and other major events with its own teams . After a referendum, the Saar Treaty was concluded in October 1956 , as a result of which the Saarland became the tenth federal state of the Federal Republic of Germany on January 1, 1957 . This also ended the independence in sport politics and the Saar associations in sport joined the German associations in the Federal Republic.

Structures

The temporary statehood of the Saarland also affected cycling and its structures. The Saarland Cyclists' Association was founded for cycling and was initially a cooperative member of the Federation Francaise Cyclisme (FFC) . The cooperation was dissolved in 1949 and in 1951 the association became an independent member of the Union Cycliste International (UCI).

In contrast to Germany, the first bike races after the Second World War did not take place again in Saarland until the summer of 1947. The formation of fixed structures was hindered by the omni sports law passed by the French military administration, according to which only one club was allowed to be formed at each location, which was responsible for all sports and naturally meant a dominance of football. With the beginning of the 1948 season, the number of races and organized cyclists increased sharply, not least triggered by the passage that the Tour de France took through the Saarland. A cyclists' union was formed, which united the cycling departments, but without having a fixed official structure. In the autumn of 1948, the cycling department of the Saar Sports Association was founded.

When the Omni Sports Act was relaxed in July, the Saarland Cyclists' Association (SRB) was established as an independent sports association.

Cycling race

This structure promoted cycling, which received a large number of members. A large number of bicycle races were organized, mostly open to the nation. The first international races were the traditional Saarland Tour and a Saarland-Lorraine road race . Also track races were held, first in Saarbrücken , later in Oberbexbach and Saarlouis where dirt track races were organized. In 1950 the structures were consolidated to such an extent that 20 open-country and three international road races took place, as well as six international track races. In 1950, 20 independents (later even around 50), 100 amateurs and almost 100 youth drivers were equipped with a license.

Championships

The Saarland championships were held separately on the road for the independents, the amateurs and the youth classes in the individual race and in the team time trial (at the beginning the independents also held this championship). On the track there were championships in sprint , 10,000 meter race, team pursuit and two-man team driving . However, these championships were not held continuously until 1956. Cyclo-cross races were also held and championships were held. Saarland drivers took part in the UCI road world championships and the world championships in cyclo-cross racing.

Well-known racing cyclists

In addition to the amateur class, there was also the independent class. Well-known drivers from Saarland were Günter Debusmann , Lothar Friedrich and Josef Rupp , all of whom won the Saarland championship. The most successful drivers by championship title were Hermann Messinger , who won 15 Saarland championship titles, and Jürgen Markus with six wins in the amateurs.

Cycling race

Well-known races were the Saarland Tour , the Grand Rose Prize from Zweibrücken and the Bergmannrennens in Völklingen .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Saarland: The Saar State 1945 - 1955 -. In: saarland.de. August 1, 2011, accessed March 25, 2020 .
  2. ↑ a b Rv Falke Editor: Chronicle. In: rv-falke.de. March 27, 2016, accessed March 25, 2020 .
  3. ^ Association of German cyclists (ed.): Radsport . No. 43/1950 . German sports publisher Kurt Stoof, Cologne 1950, p. 13 .
  4. ^ Association of German cyclists (ed.): Radsport . No. 44/1950 . German sports publisher Kurt Stoof, Cologne 1950, p. 14 .