Cycling news: Cycling is mourning the loss of Andy Rihs today. The 75-year-old BMC Switzerland and BMC Racing Team Boss passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on the night of April 18 in the Susenberg Hospital after a long battle with cancer.
BMC mourns the loss of Andy Rihs. With him, not only the BMC family, but the entire international bike community has lost a very special person and an important influence. Andy took over BMC 18 years ago with his vision and boundless passion for beautiful hand built road bikes and professional cycling. This passion has been the breeding ground for the growth, success and impact of the company on Swiss and international cycling.
“Andy was not only the owner and main sponsor of the BMC Racing Team, but also a friend who enjoyed life and was happy to share that joy. With him we have lost an exemplary visionary, an avid sports fan, passionate cyclist and great supporter of the sport. His generosity, sense of humor and infectious laugh have shaped the man who has stood by our side since the BMC Racing Team began. Our sadness is beyond words, but we will carry on his values.” – BMC Racing Team
Andy Rihs once led the hearing aid manufacturer Phonak from 1966 to 2011 and joined the professional peloton as a main sponsor in 2000. In 2006, Floyd Landis won the Tour de France, which he was stripped of just a few days later because of testosterone doping. As a result, the sponsorship by Phonak ended. A year later, however, he was back with his bike brand BMC and founded a new US Continental team. This team has continued to develop to this day and is known not least as the BMC Racing Team in the WorldTour. One of the greatest successes is Cadel Evans' victory in the 2011 Tour de France. In addition, Philippe Gilbert became world champion as a BMC professional in 2012 and Greg Van Avermaet became Olympic champion in 2016. They also won the World Team Time Trial Championships in 2014 and 2015.
The professionals of the BMC WorldTour Team, such as the Swiss Stefan Küng, also had their say.
https://twitter.com/stefankueng/status/986873408259612678
“We will create a special place for Andy within the company. Employees, friends and business partners can leave a personal message for him there. Of course, Andy's passion and vision live on within the company. Andy and BMC Switzerland had and still have goals - and the BMC Switzerland team will pursue them boldly and more passionately than ever.” -David Zurcher, CEO of BMC Bikes
BMC Switzerland is optimistic about the future. Over the past four years, David Zurcher and his team have worked hard to put BMC in a strong and stable financial position so the brand is ready to take things to the next level.