Andy Rihs, Swiss owner of cycling, soccer teams, dies at 75

BERN, Switzerland (AP) - Andy Rihs, a Swiss businessman who owned the BMC Racing cycling team and Young Boys soccer club, has died. He was 75.

Rihs died Wednesday in Zurich after "a patient and valiantly endured illness," the BMC team said Thursday in a statement.

"Our grief is indescribable, but we will carry on his values," the team said, praising Rihs for his "generosity, his sense of humor, and his infectious laugh."

Rihs's death comes with Young Boys close to winning its first Swiss league title in 32 years. Young Boys leads by 11 points with six matches left.

"Andy, thank you for everything. We will miss you," Young Boys said in a statement.

Rihs's brother, Hans-Ueli, is also an owner of the club and Stade de Suisse in Bern, known locally as Wankdorf. The stadium staged the 1954 World Cup final.

As BMC owner, Rihs secured a Tour de France title five years after his previous team was involved in a doping scandal. Cadel Evans of Australia wore BMC's black and red colors to victory in the 2011 Tour.

In 2006, the Rihs-backed Phonak team disbanded after American rider Floyd Landis was stripped of the Tour title.