Cycling Legend Rik Van Steenbergen Passes Away
Rik Van Steenbergen, known as “The Boss” for his domination on the road and the track passed away today at the age of 78. Rik succumbed to cancer in the Belgian city of Antwerp. During his career Rik was the World Champion 3 times ( 1949, 1956 & 1957) and won 8 classics including 2 Paris Roubaix, 2 Tour of Flanders and Milan San Remo. Rik‚s palmares include 4 Tour de France stage wins, 15 Tour of Italy stage wins, 6 Tour of Spain stage wins ( in one year as
well) an 40 six day track wins.
Rik rode for several teams during his 23 career including: Mercier-Hutchinson (1943-54), Elve-Peugeot (1955-59), Peugeot-BP (1960), Van Steenbergen-Solo (1961), Solo-Van Steenbergen (1962), Solo-Terrot (1963). Rik rode against some serious talent including
Fausto Coppi, Louison Bobet, Ferdi Kubler, Hugo Koblet, Gino Bartali, and Rik Van Looy and to make things worse he started his career in the midst of World War II.
The Boss will be missed. PezCyclingnews and myself would like to take this opportunity to wish his family our most heartfelt condolences.
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