The Belgian cyclist Rick Van Looyconsidered one of the greatest riders in history and winner of all cycling milestones, He died at the age of 90several Belgian media outlets reported on Wednesday.
Active between the years 1950 and 1970, nicknamed “Emperor of Herentals” He was considered the greatest Belgian champion before the arrival of Eddy Merckx in the late 1960s.
His impressive wingspan did not allow him to win a grand tour -yes He was second twice in the Tour de France-, but thanks to his sprint prowess he was first, before Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck, in win the five cycling monuments at least once (eight victories in total), Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Tour of Lombardy.
Above all, the Cyclist of Campinois, that too He is a two-time Belgian and world champion, He is the only rider to win all the classics of his era (sixteen victories in total, including the monuments), something that Merckx, who never won the Paris-Tours, could not do.
Newspaper delivery (by bicycle) since age 12, He added a total of 371 professional victories.
He has the great merit of having an exceptional record by facing opponents of an exceptional level, from Rik Van Steenbergen to Eddy Merckx, without forgetting Fausto Coppi, Ferdi Kubler, Hugo Koblet, Louison Bobet, Jacques Anquetil and Charlie Gaul.
Source: La Verdad
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