West German cyclist Matthias Lange was a member of the disappointing 4,000 metres track pursuit team that was eliminated in the qualification round at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The day before the race, the team was involved in an accident with a car during a training session. With his home club Berliner RC Opel Schüler, Lange won the national title in 1984-86. In 1980 and 1981 he won silver medals at the Youth Track World Championships in the points race. Lange also rode in lesser-known road races.