Former East German track star Ralf Kuschy died on New Year's Day in Berlin, when his bike was hit by an auto. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving at a hospital. He was 49 years old.
Kuschy led to the popularity of track cycling in the former East Germany in the 1980s. He was third in the World Championships in both 1985 and 1986. He retired from competition in 1990.
