One of the great cycling legends left us today, Rick Van Looy, at the age of 90. “The Emperor of Herentals” was one of the greatest cyclists of all time, with 161 career victories (397 counting track and criterium), including 8 monument classics and 2 world championships. He also finished 3rd twice in the Vuelta España. He was the first cyclist to win all 5 monument classics, and remains one of only three to have done so, together with Eddy Merckx and Roger DeVlaeminck.
Van Looy was not only one of the strongest classic riders in history, but he is also considered a pioneer thanks to his role in Faema, between 1956 and 1961, when for the first time an entire team organized itself to ride the own captain, particularly in the fast finishes, where Van Looy was relentless. Thus was born lead-out. Faema used to train hard to be able to do “the train” to perfection (often along the shores of Lake Garda), something unusual before then. Because of the color of their shirt, Faema in those years was nicknamed “the red guard”.
Many victories (7 stages at the Tour, 12 at the Giro, 18 at the Vuelta), and obviously many placings for Van Looy (twice 2nd and once 3rd at the Roubaix), including a famous one: 2nd place at the world championships in Ronse, at home in Belgium, with Belgium clear favourites. In the final sprint, however, his last man, Beheyt Benoni, did not move to allow him to sprint to win the rainbow jersey. “Ronse’s betrayal” had taken place. Van Looy worked hard for the rest of his career to boycott Benoni’s.
Van Looy raced his last season in 1970, but already in 1966 he realized that Belgium had found his successor, when his team, Solo-Superia, took on a certain Eddie Merckx as a new pro intern.
Good luck Rik!
