Rik Van Linden

Rik Van Linden ( born July 28, 1949 in Wilrijk ) is a former Belgian cyclist.

In 1968 Rik Van Linden as a junior, the Belgian road championship in 1969, the Tour of Flanders in 1970 and the championship in track - Omnium.

1971 Van Linden turned pro and was, until the 1970s successfully. His greatest success was in 1975 Langerringen of the green jersey in the Tour de France, where he won a total of five times and four stages until 1982. As early as 1972 he had finished second behind Eddy Merckx in the points standings. At the Giro d' Italia, he won nine stages and two in the Tour of Spain.

1971 and 1973 won Rik Van Linden in the race Paris -Tours, the Giro di Sardegna 1974 and 1977 Milan -Turin. 1977 and 1979 he also became Belgian champion in Dernyrennen. 29 times he competed in six-day races and won in 1977 in Milan by Felice Gimondi, with whom he continued for several years in the Team Bianchi.

1983 joined Van Linden back from cycling.