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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian
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Rik Van Steenbergen (Bel) 
Born: September 9, 1924, Arendonk, Belgium
Died: May 15, 2003
Professional: from 1942 to 1966
Rik Van Steenbergen (Rik 1) was one of the greatest riders in the 20 th century. He started racing as a professional in 1942 during World War II, he quickly won his first important races, and became Belgian road cycling champion in 1943. Van Steenbergen excelled in the one day races, winning six major classics (Fleche Wallone 1949, 1958, Paris-Brussels 1950, Paris-Roubaix 1948, 19452, and Milan-San Remo 1954). He won the World Championship Road Race three times in 1949, 1956 and 1957. This feat equaled the long-standing record of Alfredo Binda and later matched by fellow Belgian Eddy Merckx. Rik 1 was a rider who never got tired. He was the iron man of cycling and went from the road season to the winter track circuit, where he had 40 six-day event victories. During his career, he had more than 1,000 victories on the road and track. Belgium's great cycling Rik Van Steenbergen pass away at the age of 78 after a suffering prolonged illness.
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