Heroes

Albéric Schotte

Alberic "Briek" Schotte was born in Kanegem, West Flanders on September 7, 1919. He was a Belgian professional road racing cyclist, one of the champions of the 1940s and 1950s. His stamina earned him the nickname "Iron Briek". He won the Tour of Flanders twice: in 1942, 1948. In 1948 and 1950 he was world champion. He won the last stage of the 1947 Tour de France and finished second in the epic 1948 Tour, behind Gino Bartali. Albéric Schotte took part in no less than twenty Tours of Flanders. From 1940 until 1959 (he was almost 40!) he competed...

Eddy Merckx

Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx was born on June 17, 1945 in Meensel-Kiezegem. He is better known as Eddy Merckx. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known.". The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all time. He won the Tour de France five times, won all the monuments of cycling, won the Giro d'Italia five times and the Vuelta a España once, won the world championship as an amateur and a professional, and broke the world hour record. Tour of Flanders Merckx won the Tour of...

Edwig Van Hooydonck

Edwig Van Hooydonck was born August, 4 1966 in Ekeren. He is a former Belgian professional road racing cyclist. He won the prestigious Tour of Flanders twice. The first time was in 1989, he was 22 years old and became so emotional that he cried on stage. The images went global and made him an instant hero in Belgium. He won again in 1991. This time he was less emotional but nevertheless he carries both victories in his heart.

Eric Leman

Eric Leman was born July 17, 1946 in Ledegem is a former Belgian professional road racing cyclist from Belgium. He won the prestigious Tour of Flanders three times.

Eric Vanderaerden

Eric Vanderaerden was born February 11, 1962. He is a retired Belgian road cyclist from the town of Lummen. He was a considerable talent, winning the prologue time trial of the Vuelta and the Tour de France in his professional debut year 1983. As for classics, he won the Tour of Flanders in 1985 and Paris–Roubaix in 1987. In the Tour de France, his participation in the 1985 edition was a strong one, beating the later winner Bernard Hinault in a time trial stage. The next year, he won the green jersey.

Johan Museeuw

Johan Museeuw (born 13 October 1965 in Varsenare) is a retired Belgian professional road bicycle racer. He was a professional from 1988 to 2004 and was particularly successful in the classic cycle races in the nineties. In 1989 he was part of the ADR team in which Greg LeMond won his second Tour de France. In 1990 Museeuw went to the Lotto team for which he won two stages in the Tour de France that year. Later on he rode for the MG-GB, Mapei, Domo-Farm Frites and Quick-Step. He ended his career in the spring of 2004. One week after...

Rik Van Looy

Henri ("Rik") van Looy was born December 20, 1933 in Grobbendonk. He is a Belgian former professional cyclist of the post-war period, nicknamed the King of the Classics or Emperor of Herentals (after the small Belgian town where he lives). He was twice world professional road race champion, and was the first cyclist to win all five of the most prestigious one-day classics – a feat since achieved by just two others (both also Belgians: Roger De Vlaeminck and Eddy Merckx). He won the Tour of Flanders twice: 1958 and 1962.

Rik Van Steenbergen

Rik Van Steenbergen was born in Arendonk on September 9, 1924 in a poor family. He started cycling as a professional during World War II in 1942, after being an amateur since he was 14. The next year, he won his first important races, and became Belgian road cycling champion. In 1944, he won the Tour of Flanders, which he won again two years later. During his career, which lasted until 1966, Van Steenbergen won several more classics: Paris–Roubaix, Paris–Brussels and Milan – San Remo. He also won the World Road Cycling Championships three times. It is estimated Van Steenbergen...