Starting out as a footballer Rupert Kratzer became interested in cycling only through a bet, when he won a keg of beer by being the fastest in a race from his hometown of Munich to Lake Starnberg. He later won the German individual pursuit championship fives times (1967-69, 1971, 1973), and won a bronze medal in the event at the 1973 World Championships. He added silvers at the German nationals in individual pursuit in 1970 and 1972, and also won a bronze medal in the team pursuit in 1974. Kratzer died of a heart attack while training in go-karting, one of his favorite hobbies.
West Germany