In the cycling universe, a peculiar character made a presence, becoming an iconic figure in the stages of the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. Dieter “Didi” Senft, born on February 7, 1952, is known as Didi the Devil or El Diablo.
Since 1993, he has surprised spectators in various stages of these competitions, wearing his characteristic red devil costume and painting trident symbols on the road a few kilometers before his appearance. The origins of this peculiar outfit date back to a West German TV broadcast that referred to the red triangular flag marking the last kilometer as “the devil’s red flag.”
“The Red Devil’s” life is marked by his role as a flamboyant cycling fan and a talented inventor. In addition to being a cycling enthusiast, Senft has created numerous unusual bicycles, including the world’s largest functional bicycle. With 17 world records related to bike-related inventions, he has also entered the Guinness World Records for building the largest mobile guitar shaped like a bicycle.
During multi-day races, Senft often anticipates the race in a customized vehicle, choosing strategic locations for the cyclists’ passage. His presence extends not only to multi-day competitions but also to important one-day races such as spring classics and world championships.
Memorable Moments and Challenges
In 1996, Senft crossed the ocean to Atlanta, Georgia, USA, to cheer on athletes during the road cycling event at the 1996 Summer Olympics in the suburban streets of Buckhead.
During the 2006 Tour de Suisse, Senft left his trademark by painting his trident on the road before the competitors’ passage. However, the local Swiss police informed him that this was illegal, demanding that he remove the markings to avoid a fine.
He returned to the spotlight in Euro 2008 by riding through Klagenfurt on his “Football Bike” before the match between Germany and Croatia.
In the following years, Senft continued to make his presence felt, whether in the editions of the Giro d’Italia in 2011 and 2012 or the Cologne Marathon in 2011, donning his pink devil costume.
In 2012, after undergoing surgery, Senft announced that he would miss the Tour de France for the first time since 1993. However, his absence was temporary, and he returned at the 2012 World Championships, remaining present in every subsequent edition of the Tour de France until 2023.