Rik Van Steenbergen

Rik Van Steenbergen ( born September 9, 1924 in Arendonk, Belgium, † 15 May 2003 in Antwerp) was a Belgian cyclist and one of the most successful classic rider of all time.

The named because of the name similarity with the younger Belgian cyclist Rik Van Looy also " Rik I" Van Steenbergen was one of the first real stars of cycling. In addition to 40 victories on the six-day race tracks Rik Van Steenbergen was able to prevail especially in the classic one-day races.

His greatest successes were three victories in the 1949, 1956 and 1957 Road World Championships. Throughout his professional career, from 1943 to 1966 he once was Milan - Sanremo, twice the Tour of Flanders, and win twice Paris -Roubaix twice the Flèche Wallonne.

His best result at a major stage race was a second place in the Giro d' Italia in 1951. Overall, he won at the Tour of Italy 15 stage wins, four more in the Tour de France.

After the end of his active career Van Steenbergen slipped temporarily into a kriminielles milieu. He was repeatedly arrested for human trafficking, car jacking and finally in 1969, after ten kilograms of opium were seized in the trunk of his car. In the affair further known professional cyclists were involved, including Joseph Meesters.

Rik Van Steenbergen was married twice; from the first marriage came five children. He was the father of the successful six-day professionals Palle Lykke. From Van Steenbergen is the quote delivered: "There are no supermen, doping in sport is necessary. "