Rik Van Looy, one of the greatest cyclists in history and the first rider capable of winning all five monument classics, has died at the age of 90, a feat later equaled only by Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck. Rik Van Looy was known as “The Emperor of Herentals” and also boasts two world titles in his palmares.
The news of his passing was reported by the Belgian media. Van Looy was also very attached to the Marche region for his victory, on 2 June 1961, in Castelfidardo, at Porta Marina, in the stage (starting from Mentana) of the Giro d’Italia in the edition of the Centenary of the Unification of Italy.
Born on 20 December 1933 in Grobbendonk, Belgium, Rik Van Looy marked an era thanks to his power in the sprint and his ability to dominate both on the flat and on more demanding routes.
Professional between 1953 and 1970, he was the first rider in history capable of conquering all five monument classics: Milan-Sanremo in 1958, Paris-Roubaix in 1961 and 1962, Tour of Flanders in 1959 and 1962, Liège-Bastogne- Liège in 1961 and Giro di Lombardia in 1959. This record, unrivaled at the time, ensured him a place among cycling’s elite. In the following years, he shared this record with Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck, who make up the trio of cyclists capable of winning five career monuments.
