Douglas cyclist, Holocaust survivor travels back to Europe in search of world age-group titles

Following the death of his parents in the Holocaust, Leon Malmed fled Europe as a young adult and arrived in the United States in 1964 intent on starting a new life and placing his traumatic childhood in the past.

Nearly six decades later in a far better scenario, the destinations have transposed and Malmed is back in Europe this weekend chasing what could prove to be one of the best moments of his life. The 85-year-old member of the Douglas County-based Alta Alpina Cycling Club is seeking titles in three events at the World Masters Cycling championships in St. Johann, Austria.

Malmed, who won three U.S. national age group titles in Albuquerque, N.M., in 2022, is set to compete in the 40-kilometer road race, the 10-kilometer time trial, and the 1-kilometer sprint. The races in the Tyrolian Alps continue through Monday.

Malmed has been preparing for the world championships by riding 20-30 miles daily. On Aug. 3, he placed second overall in Alta Alpina’s ‘D’ category 22-mile club road race despite competing against athletes many decades younger than himself. During Tahoe’s long 2023 winter, Malmed stayed in shape riding indoors on his Peloton.

“You need to have determination, attitude and perseverance to become a top cyclist,” said Malmed, who began cycling at a relatively late age of 65.

Malmed displayed plenty of determination, attitude and perseverance long before he ever clipped his cycling shoes into the pedals.

Malmed was born in Compiegne, France, in 1937 just before the start of World War II. After Nazi Gemany invaded and subsequently occupied France in the early 1940s, Malmed’s parents, Srul, 34, and Chana Malmed, 29, were deported to the infamous concentration camp at Auschwitz, Poland, in 1942 because they were Jews. Chana likely died en route to the camp as there is no record of her receiving a numeric body tattoo; Srul survived for two years at the camp before dying in 1944.

Leon and his sister, Rachel, barely escaped the Nazis because they were hidden by their kind neighbors, Henri and Suzanne Ribouleau. For three years, Leon and Rachel were shuttled from cellars to chicken coops to forest camps to evade the Nazis. For their effort to save the Malmed children, the Ribouleaus would eventually be awarded Israel’s “Medal of the Righteous” in 1978 in a ceremony at the Israeli Consulate in Paris, France.

Leon’s childhood is well-documented in his memoir “We Survived … At Last I Speak.”

Eventually, Leon and Rachel both came to the United States after World War II. Leon moved from New York to San Jose, Calif., in the early 1980s and became a successful businessman, rising to become a vice-president of large Silicon Valley tech firm. He and his wife, Patricia, eventually settled down in South Lake Tahoe after Leon’s retirement.

When he retired in 1999 at age 62, Malmed initially thought he would be an excellent golfer in his retirement years.

“I just became a golfer,” Malmed said. “I never became a good golfer.”

About the same time he was becoming frustrated by the sport of golf, Malmed discovered he was naturally talented in another sport: cycling. After being invited on some informal rides by friends, Malmed quickly realized he could maintain the Peloton’s pace – despite the fact he was on borrowed equipment. He eventually bought his own properly sized bicycle and soon his friends were struggling to keep up.

“I just love the sport,” Malmed said. “You feel so free when you are cycling.”

Malmed joined the Alta Alpina Club in 2008 at age 70 and began participating in club rides and low-key events. He didn’t begin competing in serious age-group events until age 78 and he won his first national championship in 2021 at age 83.

Malmed said he has no trepidation about traveling to Austria for the world championships. He said he visited Germany many times during his business career, and he has only positive remarks about the region today.

“I have no problems traveling in Germany and the German people are good people,” Malmed said. “It was one person who primarily caused the terrible deeds – Hitler – and today I do not hold any grudges.”

Malmed’s book “We Survived…At Last I Speak” is available at Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com