Sportsman Loetzsch

Australasian Premiere

Wolfgang Loetzsch was considered the most gifted cyclist in the “sports country” German Democratic Republic. The cyclist fell into disgrace in the 70s due to his critical attitude towards state and party and was excluded from the promotional system for high-performance sport. An unwilling revolutionary, he refused to be an opportunist within the state sport apparatus.

The secret service, the Stasi, arranged for an icy headwind to blow in the face of his career. Loetzsch continues alone. He finds a trainer among the non-professional sports people from Leipzig, willing to sacrifice his own career for him to help Loetzsch.

There’s also a loyal group of supportive fans when he shows up
for the races as an unwanted outsider – and to the chagrin of the sports officials, Loetzsch always wins. For 17 years, he won race after race in East Germany but was never allowed to participate in any important international race outside of the country.