Rider Obituary: Henri ‘Rik’ Van Looy passed away at the age of 90 on Tuesday night. The ‘Emperor of Herentals’ is one of the greatest Belgian cyclists of all time and won all five monuments, two World Championships and has 39 stage victories in Grand Tours in his palmarès. We look back at his life, his wins and what the other stars thought of him.
A young Rik Van Looy
Van Looy was born on 20 December 1933 in the Antwerp municipality of Grobbendonk. In his younger years, Van Looy worked as a newspaper delivery boy and regularly worked in a café in Herentals with his wife Nini, with whom he remained together until her death in 2021. At the beginning of the fifties, it was clear that Van Looy had the necessary talent to develop into an above-average cyclist. However, that did not initially come to fruition, Van Looy says in his last interview with HLN. “I was just riding around a bit, as a racer. I occasionally had a pint. And thought: ‘That’s not how it works, we also have children to raise’. So I asked doctor Claes if he wanted to guide me and draw up a training schedule for me. After insisting three times, he did it and the train really got going.”
Van Looy and Peter Post
The rest is history. From 1952 onwards, Van Looy made his mark in the peloton for almost twenty years as one of the best Belgian cyclists who ever lived. In his first years as a professional for Gitane-Hutchinson, Bianchi-Pirelli and Girardengo-Eldorado, from 1956 for the Belgian-Italian team Faema, together with the legendary team manager Lomme Driessens, with whom he would work together for almost his entire career. At Faema, Van Looy became a great rider. In his first year with that team, he won Paris-Brussels, Gent-Wevelgem and the Scheldeprijs. After that, he only won big races. In 1958, he won five stages in the Vuelta a España and his first Monument: Milan-Sanremo.
World champion 1960
In Belgium, Van Looy’s popularity increased. ‘Rik II’ became his name, because the country already had a great Rik, ‘Rik I’, Rik Van Steenbergen.
The two Riks
When Van Looy became World champion two-times in a row, in Karl-Marx-Stadt and Bern in 1960 and 1961, his popularity rose to unprecedented heights. At that point in his career, Van Looy had already won all five Monuments. After his victory in Milan-Sanremo in 1958, he went on to win the Tour of Lombardy and the Tour of Flanders both in 1959 and then Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Paris-Roubaix both in 1961. In 1962 and 1965, Paris-Roubaix was added twice more, and in 1962 the Tour of Flanders again. Van Looy became the first rider in history to win all the Monuments: later only Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck would join that list.
1961 Paris-Roubaix
Despite Van Looy’s many victories, 367 as a professional, one race that he didn’t win will be remembered as the most remarkable event in his career. It was his second place at the World championships in Ronse in 1963, where Van Looy was beaten by fellow countryman Benoni Beheyt after almost eight hours of racing. Before the start of the World championships, Van Looy was the big favourite to win his third World title on the road, on home soil in front of his own people. The evening before the race, Van Looy had demanded the unconditional support of his teammates in exchange for a generous financial bonus (the equivalent of 1,000 pounds each). Everything was going according to plan for Van Looy and after a lead-out by Gilbert Desmet, Van Looy looked to be on his way to the World title. But in the final metres, he was overtaken by the 22-year-old Beheyt. In retrospect, Desmet, a teammate of Beheyt at Wiel’s Groene Leeuw, deliberately started the sprint too early, which meant that Beheyt took the rainbow jersey. In photographs you can see Beheyt pulling Van Looy in the sprint. Belgium was in turmoil for months.
Benoni Beheyt and the 1963 Worlds
Van Looy eventually stopped cycling in 1970. After his career, the Belgian avoided the spotlight and continued to live in Herentals with his wife Nini, about whom he said after his career: “She has sacrificed herself for me my entire career, now it is my turn to be there for her.” Van Looy has hardly ever in the news, but he has always remained involved in cycling through the Flemish Cycling School in Herentals. In the last years of his life, he was also looking after his sick wife, who passed away in early 2021. Three years after her death, Van Looy, after a short illness, passed away on December 18 in the presence of family and friends.
Rik Van Looy and his wife Nini
The ‘Emperor of Herentals’ passed away on Tuesday night at the age of 90. Eddy Merckx, Tom Boonen and Roger De Vlaeminck all spoke of the great man.
Eddy Merckx reacted sadly to the passing of his former teammate early on Wednesday. Merckx was ‘the successor’ to cycling legend Van Looy and remembers the races they rode together and against each other. “He is one of the best Belgian riders ever. He was a great champion and a great opponent,” Merckx said to the Gazet van Antwerpen, full of praise for his older compatriot. “His willpower and his will to win are things that will always stay with me.”
Van Looy and Eddy Merckx
Roger De Vlaeminck also spoke with awe about the two-time World champion and winner of all the Monuments. “We are all going to die, but it is always a shock when someone you know passes away,” the 77-year-old De Vlaeminck spoke to the Belga press agency. “Rik Van Looy was fourteen years older than me. He would soon be 91. It does hurt to have to say goodbye to him. He was a very great rider and above all an icon of cycling. Together with my father, as a young ‘boy’, I went to watch Rik Van Looy race in the neighbourhood. I was a supporter of his. That feeling of yesteryear is bubbling up again now. It makes me shiver. We rode several more races together,” De Vlaeminck continued. “Rik also continued to race for a long time. We competed against each other here and there for another four years. Rik was a figure, you looked up to him as a novice rider. The man already had a fantastic record of achievements back then. I sometimes stood next to him at the start, after all, he was my idol. We are losing another figure from cycling, but that is life.”
Merckx, De Vlaeminck and Van Looy
Van Looy ended his career in 1970, but Tom Boonen has always looked up to him. “I had no idea that he was not doing so well anymore,” Boonen said to VTM. “Last year I went out for dinner with him for his 90th birthday. That was a super fun evening, he was still 100% sane. Everyone at that age would still want to sign for that. He is someone I have always looked up to, he was someone who captured the imagination. When I won the E3 Harelbeke for the fourth time, I was on an equal footing with him. That did something to me at the time. I remember Rik as someone who said after his career that he didn’t need the attention anymore. He didn’t want to be in the spotlight anymore. He focused on the youth and that was nice. Rik is someone who wrote the history of racing and put cycling in Belgium on the world map. We can be very grateful to him for that.”
Van Looy and Tom Boonen
Sporza commentator Renaat Schotte said that he will never forget Van Looy, he wrote: “Fantastic career, formidable list of honours, strong personality.” Belgian photographer Lars Crommelinck: “A true cycling legend whose incredible legacy will continue to inspire generations.” The organisers of Paris-Roubaix paid tribute to Van Looy. “He won the Hell of the North three times, twice with the rainbow jersey on his shoulders. A tribute to Rik Van Looy, the Emperor of Herentals.”
RIP. Rik Van Looy
Rik Van Looy had 367 wins in his palmarès, here are his 161 top victories:
161: Heist-op-den-Berg – 1969-09-24
160: Omloop der Zennevallei- 1969-08-15
159: Tour de France | Stage 4 – 1969-07-02
158: Harelbeke-Antwerp-Harelbeke- 1969-03-22
157: La Flèche Wallonne – 1968-04-21
156: Paris – Tours – 1967-10-08
155: Omloop van de Fruitstreek – 1967-03-26
154: Paris – Nice | Stage 4 – 1967-03-11
153: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 2 – 1967-02-28
152: Petegem-aan-de-Leie – 1966-10-03
151: GP des Pays-Bas | Stage 2 – 1966-08-13
150: Tour de Luxembourg | Stage 3 – 1966-06-12
149: Omloop van de Fruitstreek – 1966-04-10
148: Harelbeke-Antwerp-Harelbeke – 1966-03-26
147: Paris – Nice | Stage 4 – 1966-03-11
146: Tour de France | Stage 19 – 1965-07-11
145: Tour de France | Stage 1a – 1965-06-22
144: Tour de Luxembourg | Stage 4 – 1965-06-14
143: Tour de Luxembourg | Stage 2b – 1965-06-12
142: Tour de Luxembourg | Stage 1 – 1965-06-11
141: Brussel – Meulebeke – 1965-05-23
140: Vuelta a España | Stage 17 – 1965-05-15
139: Vuelta a España | Stage 15 – 1965-05-13
138: Vuelta a España | Stage 14 – 1965-05-12
137: Vuelta a España | Stage 12 – 1965-05-10
136: Vuelta a España | Stage 9 – 1965-05-07
135: Vuelta a España | Stage 7 – 1965-05-05
134: Vuelta a España | Stage 2 – 1965-04-30
133: Vuelta a España | Stage 1 – 1965-04-29
132: Flèche enghiennoise – 1965-04-22
131: Paris – Roubaix – 1965-04-11
130: Ronde van België / Tour de Belgique | Stage 2a – 1965-04-07
129: Circuit du Provençal | Stage 4b – 1965-04-03
128: Circuit des XI Villes – 1965-03-28
127: Harelbeke-Antwerp-Harelbeke – 1965-03-27
126: Giro di Sardegna – 1965-03-07
125: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 6 – 1965-03-07
124: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 5 – 1965-03-06
123: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 4 – 1965-03-05
122: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 3 – 1965-03-04
121: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 1 – 1965-03-02
120: G.P. Alghero – 1965-02-28
119: Circuit de l’Aulne – 1964-09-03
118: Paris – Luxembourg – 1964-08-30
117: Paris – Luxembourg | Stage 1 – 1964-08-29
116: Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré | Stage 4b – 1964-06-01
115: Brussel – Meulebeke – 1964-05-24
114: Vuelta a España | Stage 2 – 1964-05-01
113: Ronde van België / Tour de Belgique | Stage 4 – 1964-04-16
112: Harelbeke-Antwerp-Harelbeke – 1964-03-14
111: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 4 – 1964-03-04
110: Circuit de l’Aulne – 1963-09-02
109: National Championships Belgium – Road Race – 1963-07-21
108: Tour de France | Stage 21 – 1963-07-14
107: Tour de France | Stage 13 – 1963-07-05
106: Tour de France | Stage 8 – 1963-06-30
105: Tour de France | Stage 2a – 1963-06-24
104: Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré | Stage 5 – 1963-06-07
103: Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré | Stage 2 – 1963-06-04
102: Paris – Nice | Stage 8 – 1963-03-17
101: Paris – Nice | Stage 4 – 1963-03-13
100: Paris – Nice | Stage 1 – 1963-03-10
99: Omloop der Vlaamse Gewesten – 1963-03-09
98: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 4 – 1963-02-27
97: Giro d’Italia | Stage 11 – 1962-05-29
96: Giro d’Italia | Stage 9 – 1962-05-27
95: Ronde van België / Tour de Belgique | Stage 3 – 1962-04-25
94: Paris – Roubaix – 1962-04-08
93: Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres – 1962-04-01
92: Gent – Wevelgem – 1962-03-25
91: Paris – Nice | Stage 9b – 1962-03-17
90: Paris – Nice | Stage 7b – 1962-03-15
89: Giro di Sardegna – 1962-02-25
88: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 5b – 1962-02-24
87: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 3 – 1962-02-22
86: Critérium des As – 1961-10-10
85: World Championships – Road Race – 1961-09-03
84: Giro d’Italia | Stage 17 – 1961-06-06
83: Giro d’Italia | Stage 15 – 1961-06-04
82: Giro d’Italia | Stage 13 – 1961-06-02
81: Liège – Bastogne – Liège – 1961-05-15
80: Ronde van België / Tour de Belgique – 1961-05-11
79: Ronde van België / Tour de Belgique | Stage 4b – 1961-05-11
78: Paris – Roubaix – 1961-04-09
77: Paris – Nice | Stage 7 – 1961-03-16
76: Paris – Nice | Stage 6b – 1961-03-15
75: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 6 – 1961-03-03
74: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 2 – 1961-02-27
73: World Championships – Road Race – 1960-08-14
72: Ronde van Brabant – 1960-07-17
71: 3 jours d’Anvers | Stage 2a – 1960-06-19
70: Giro d’Italia | Stage 11 – 1960-05-29
69: Giro d’Italia | Stage 8 – 1960-05-26
68: Giro d’Italia | Stage 7b – 1960-05-25
67: Paris – Nice | Stage 8b – 1960-03-16
66: Paris – Nice | Stage 5 – 1960-03-13
65: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 5 – 1960-03-03
64: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 4 – 1960-03-02
63: Giro di Lombardia – 1959-10-18
62: Paris – Tours – 1959-10-11
61: Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen – 1959-09-17
60: Giro d’Italia | Stage 14 – 1959-05-30
59: Giro d’Italia | Stage 11 – 1959-05-26
58: Giro d’Italia | Stage 5 – 1959-05-20
57: Giro d’Italia | Stage 1 – 1959-05-16
56: Vuelta a España | Stage 11 – 1959-05-04
55: Vuelta a España | Stage 9 – 1959-05-02
54: Vuelta a España | Stage 8 – 1959-05-01
53: Vuelta a España | Stage 1b – 1959-04-24
52: Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres – 1959-03-30
51: Vuelta a Levante – 1959-03-15
50: Vuelta a Levante | Stage 7 – 1959-03-14
49: Vuelta a Levante | Stage 6 – 1959-03-13
48: Vuelta a Levante | Stage 2 – 1959-03-09
47: Giro di Sardegna – 1959-02-27
46: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 6 – 1959-02-27
45: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 4 – 1959-02-25
44: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 2 – 1959-02-23
43: Coppa Bernocchi – 1958-09-14
42: GP Marvan | Stage 2b – 1958-08-24
41: National Championships Belgium – Road Race – 1958-08-10
40: Milano – Mantova – 1958-06-15
39: Vuelta a España | Stage 10 – 1958-05-09
38: Vuelta a España | Stage 9 – 1958-05-08
37: Vuelta a España | Stage 6 – 1958-05-05
36: Vuelta a España | Stage 5b – 1958-05-04
35: Vuelta a España | Stage 4 – 1958-05-03
34: Paris-Bruxelles – 1958-04-20
33: 3 jours d’Anvers | Stage 2a – 1958-04-09
32: Dwars door België / À travers la Belgique | Stage 2 – 1958-03-23
31: Milano-Sanremo – 1958-03-19
30: Vuelta a Levante | Stage 8 – 1958-03-16
29: Vuelta a Levante | Stage 4 – 1958-03-12
28: Vuelta a Levante | Stage 1 – 1958-03-09
27: Giro di Sardegna | Stage 3 – 1958-02-25
26: Coppa Bernocchi – 1957-09-15
25: Schaal Sels – 1957-08-27
24: 3 jours d’Anvers | Stage 3b – 1957-08-13
23: 3 jours d’Anvers | Stage 3a – 1957-08-13
22: Scheldeprijs – 1957-07-31
21: Omloop van Oost-Vlaanderen – 1957-06-10
20: Ronde van Nederland – 1957-05-13
19: Ronde van Nederland | Stage 6a – 1957-05-11 ME
18: Ronde van Nederland | Stage 3b – 1957-05-08 ME
17: Ronde van Nederland | Stage 2 – 1957-05-07 ME
16: Gran Premio Ciclomotoristico delle Nazioni | Stage 6a – 1957-04-29 ME
15: Gent – Wevelgem – 1957-03-23
14: Cologno Monzese – 1956-10-14
13: Ronde van Nederland – 1956-08-13
12: Ronde van Nederland | Stage 6 – 1956-08-11
11: Ronde van Nederland | Stage 3 – 1956-08-08
10: Scheldeprijs – 1956-07-31
9: Vijfbergenomloop – 1956-05-01
8: Paris-Bruxelles – 1956-04-22
7: 3 jours d’Anvers – 1956-04-19
6: 3 jours d’Anvers | Stage 2a – 1956-04-18
5. Gent – Wevelgem – 1956-03-25
4: Omloop van Oost-Vlaanderen – 1955-05-30
3: Roubaix – Huy – 1954-08-01
2: 3 jours d’Anvers | Stage 3a – 1954-04-22
1: Heist-op-den-Berg – 1953-09-22.
# Thanks to PCS and WielerFlits for the facts and figures and the unknown photographers. #
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