After a brief career as a track cyclist Josef Helbling became one of the greatest cycling coaches and race organisers in Switzerland. Helbling competed in his first race on the track in 1953 and became a regular fixture at the national track championships. He was selected to compete at the 1960 Roma Olympics, where he came eighth in the 1,000 metres time trial. He retired from competitions in 1964 and went on to become a successful coach. Under his leadership the cyclists he trained won 15 world championship titles, with ten of them won by Urs Freuler. Helbling also coached several Olympians including medallists Robert Dill-Bundi and Xaver Kurmann. He later worked as a race commissioner, organising more than 20 six-day races and more than 30 editions of the Tour de Suisse.
Switzerland