The world of Belgian cycling is mourning the passing of Rick Van Looya legendary figure who marked an era. At the age of 90, theEmperor of Herentals he passed away after a short illness. With an extraordinary career, Van Looy has conquered eight monuments and two world titles, becoming a symbol of cycling. Its innovative team, the “Red Brigades“, revolutionized the way of approaching racing.
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Henri “Rik” Van Looy demonstrated from a young age that he was a talented cyclist. At just 22 years old, he was signed by the team Faemawhere he immediately shone in the classics, winning the Ghent-Wevelgem and it Scheldt price in his debut season. His popularity grew rapidly, surpassing that of his predecessor, Rik Van Steenbergen.
In 1958, Van Looy won his first major race, the Milan-Sanremoand formed a close-knit team, known as “The Red Guard”. Rigorous training on Lake Garda in the off-season has helped build a strong and competitive team. Every time he participated in a classic, he was considered the heavy favorite, and he took at least one victory in every major race.
His career was marked by a series of successes, including two world titles in 1960 and 1961. However, his story is not without disappointments. During the 1963 World Cup, an unexpected rival, Benoni Beheytsurprised him in a final sprint, giving rise to what was nicknamed “Ronse’s Betrayal”.
After his retirement, Van Looy continued to influence cycling as director of the Flemish cycling school in Herentalshis hometown. His legacy will remain alive in the hearts of all cycling enthusiasts.
| Result | Anno |
|---|---|
| 18x Tappa Vuelta a España | (’65, ’64, ’59, ’58) |
| 3x Paris – Roubaix | (’65, ’62, ’61) |
| 2x World Championships | (’61, ’60) |
| 12x Giro d’Italia stage | (’62, ’61, ’60, ’59) |
| 7x Tappa Tour de France | (’69, ’65, ’63) |
| 3x Ghent-Wevelgem | (’62, ’57, ’56) |
| 2x Tour of Flanders | (’62, ’59) |
| 2x Paris-Brussels | (’58, ’56) |
| 2x Paris – Tours | (’67, ’59) |
| Milan-Sanremo | (’58) |
| Tour of Lombardy | (’59) |
| 4x Harelbeke-Antwerp-Harelbeke | (’69, ’66, ’65, ’64) |
By the editorial staff of Inbici News24
Copyright © Reproduction Reserved Inbici Media Group
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