Walter Godefroot, the esteemed former Belgian cyclist and team manager, has passed away at the age of 82 following a prolonged battle with Parkinson’s disease. Godefroot, who was born in Gent, Belgium, enjoyed a remarkable cycling career from 1965 to 1979, during which he secured a total of ten stage wins in the prestigious Tour de France.
Godefroot’s achievements in the Tour de France were complemented by victories in other major events. He claimed the points classification in 1970 and celebrated wins at the Tour of Flanders twice, Paris-Roubaix, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. His Olympic journey began with a bronze medal in the road race at the Tokyo Games in 1964, before he turned professional the following year.
A Career of Triumphs and Leadership
During his competitive years, Godefroot established himself as a formidable opponent to cycling greats, including Eddy Merckx. He triumphed in the Belgian National Championships in 1965, and achieved victories at Liège in 1967 and Roubaix in 1969. Renowned as a Classics specialist and Grand Tour stage hunter, Godefroot’s impressive tally included ten Tour de France stages from 1967 to 1975, alongside a stage win at the 1977 Giro d’Italia and two stages at the 1971 Vuelta a España. Over his racing career, he amassed a total of 155 victories, riding for teams such as Flandria, Salvarani, and Peugeot.
Following his retirement from competitive cycling in 1977, Godefroot opened a bicycle shop with his wife. However, he returned to the sport in 1991 as the manager of the Telekom team after a brief stint managing smaller teams. Under his leadership, Telekom transformed into a dominant force in cycling, achieving two Tour de France victories with riders Bjarne Riis and Jan Ullrich. Godefroot stepped down from his role in 2005 but remained involved as an advisor for Astana in 2006 and 2007, before fully retiring from professional cycling.
Remembering a Cycling Icon
Walter Godefroot, affectionately known as “the bulldog of Flanders” during his racing days, passed away on September 1, 2025. His legacy as a cyclist and manager has left an indelible mark on the sport, inspiring generations of cyclists. The cycling community mourns the loss of a true champion whose contributions have greatly shaped the landscape of competitive cycling.
