| Born | December 20, 1933 in Grobbendonk, Belgium |
| Nationality | Belgian |
| Height | 1.74 m |
| Weight | 71 kg |
| Professional Career | 1953-1967 |
Born on December 20, 1933, in Grobbendonk, Belgium, Rik Van Looy is a former professional cyclist from Belgium. He was renowned for his sprinting skills and is regarded as one of the finest cyclists of all time. Van Looy began his career in 1953 and left it in 1967.
Van Looy finished his career with 493 victories, including numerous classics like the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and Milan-San Remo. In addition, he was the first cyclist to triumph in all five of cycling’s “Monuments,” which also include the Giro di Lombardia and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He took home 22 Tour de France stage victories and held the yellow jersey for eight days. Van Looy won numerous stage events, like as the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Vuelta a Espaa, in addition to his classic successes.
Van Looy was renowned for his tenacious competitive spirit and forceful attitude. In a nod to his hometown of Herentals, he was frequently referred to as the “Emperor of Herentals.” Van Looy worked as a Tour of Flanders public relations representative after quitting riding, and he eventually became a television pundit for Belgian television.
Van Looy’s Greatest Achievements:
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 1956 | World Road Race Champion |
| 1958 | Milan-San Remo |
| 1958 | Paris-Roubaix |
| 1959 | Tour of Flanders |
| 1960 | Liège–Bastogne–Liège |
| 1961 | Giro di Lombardia |
| 1962 | Giro di Lombardia |
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