Beloved soigneur a spy?
From cycling fans anonymous:
04 May 2008
Eule a Stasi spy?
German media is reporting that long-time T-Mobile soigneur Dieter "Eule" Ruthenberg, who was masseur to riders such as Ullrich and Zabel, is under suspicion of being a spy and informant for the Stasi, the notorious and hated East German secret police. Ruthenberg is said to have worked for the Stasi from 1976 to 1989. Ruthenberg is well-known to American cycling fans due to his prominent and compelling role in the Tour de France documentary Hell on Wheels. Apparently doping was hardly the only thing going on behind the scenes at T-Mobile.
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Is there a source on this?
by Chris Fontecchio on May 5, 2008 2:33 PM EDT reply actions
Die Welt
That said, keep in mind that "Stasi spy" can encompass a really broad range of things. And keep in mind the context/era. Some obscene percentage of the population may have qualified under some definitions.
OK
by Chris Fontecchio on May 5, 2008 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
I have to hold out hope
by Drew on May 5, 2008 2:48 PM EDT reply actions
Anyone who gave
The 13-year window is sort of interesting, but that often only means that he said something in 1976 and they kept a file until 1989. Probably it means more than that, but, given Eule's circumstances in life, not much more. In Czechoslovakia (which I know well), the list of ex-informers contains many smart, modern people now working as heads of corporations, think tanks, pro-western political parties and NGOs, etc.
Just let the sad old gay guy have his peace.
Not too surprising...
Timothy Garten Ash has a great book on his Stasi file - he's a British academic who spent time in the DDR, and as a westerner, came under the scrutiny of the Stasi. The book's called, wait for it, The File
There was a piece on Jens Voigt
One in five makes for a very different context.
As Gavia says, it would hardly be surprising that a soigneur to top athletes would have been recruited as an informer. And "recruited" wouldn't have meant being asked or given a choice. Nothing like "Please come to UCLA and not Kentucky."

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