Hendrik "Rik" Van Steenbergen(9 September 1924 – 15 May 2003) was aBelgianracing cyclist,considered to be one of the best among the great number of successful Belgian cyclists.
![]() Van Steenbergen in 1967 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Rik Van Steenbergen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname | Rik I (Rik II isRik Van Looy) The Boss | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Constant Hendrik Van Steenbergen 9 September 1924 Arendonk,Belgium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 15 May 2003 Antwerp,Belgium | (aged 78)|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Discipline | Road/Track | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Role | Rider | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rider type | Classics specialist,sprinter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Professional teams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1943 | Alcyon/ Europe-Dunlop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1944 | Trialoux-Wolber | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1945-47 | Mercier | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1948 | Mercier / Bristol | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1950-51 | Mercier / Girardengo-Ursus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1952 | Mercier / Girardengo-Clement | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1953 | Mercier / Girardengo-Hutchinson | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1954 | Mercier / Girardengo-Eldorado | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1955 | Girardengo-Eldorado / Elvé-Peugeot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1956 | Girardengo-Icep / Elvé-Peugeot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1957 | Peugeot-BP-Dunlop/ Cora-Elvé | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1958 | Elvé-Peugeot-Marvan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1959-60 | Peugeot-BP-Dunlop | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1961-62 | Solo-Van Steenbergen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1963 | Solo-Terrot-Van Steenbergen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1964-66 | Solo–Superia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grand Tours
Other
Track Championships
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Medal record
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Early life
editVan Steenbergen was born inArendonkinto a poor family. As a fledgling teenager, he worked successively as cigar-roller in a factory, as errand boy and as bicycle mechanic.[1]Dreaming of a cycling career like that of his idolKarel Kaers,the tall youngster started his first street race in Morkhoven on April 4, 1939, and won it. He eventually became one of Belgium's best juniors from 1939 to 1942, winning 52 road races.[2]
Career
editVan Steenbergen was considered a "medical marvel" due to the exceptional large heart he had.
He started cycling as a professional duringWorld War IIin 1942, after being an amateur since he was 14. Although the official age limit was 21, it was decided that he could enter the professional circuit directly at the age of 18.[3]The next year, he won his first important races, and became Belgian road cycling champion. In 1944, he won theTour of Flandersclassic,which he won again two years later.
During his career, which lasted until 1966, Van Steenbergen won several more classics:Paris–Roubaix,Paris–BrusselsandMilan–San Remo.He also won theWorld Road Cycling Championshipsthree times (1949 Copenhagen,1956 Copenhagenand1957 Waregem), equaling the (still standing) record ofAlfredo Binda.His last world title, a year after his second, was won in front of a home crowd. In addition, he placed third in the first post-war world championships in1946.He held theRuban Jaunefor seven years for winning the 1948 Paris-Roubaix in a record average speed for a professional race, covering the 246 km at an average of 43.612 km per hour.
His sporting achievements, combined with his physical appearance and natural authority made him a rider who was looked up to in the peloton, with or without fear. It earned him nicknames like The Boss or El Rey (the king).
"The biggest phenomenon I have encountered on my way."
Fausto Coppion Van Steenbergen[4]
Van Steenbergen also excelled on the track. He won 40Six-day events,276Omniumsand improved two world records. His track capabilities made him an excellent road sprinter. However, due to his size, he usually had difficulty climbing, which prevented him from winning major stage races. He nevertheless placed 2nd in the1951 Giro d'Italia. Between 1949 and 1957 he won four stages in the Tour de France and wore the yellow jersey for two days. In the same period he won fifteen stages in the Giro d'Italia and rode in the leader's pink jersey for nine days. In the Vuelta a España, he achieved six stage victories and the points classification and wore the amarillo jersey for one day. In 1951 he won the Tour of the West in France. The following year he won the Tour of Argentina.[5]It is widely believed that he could have competed for victory in Grand Tours and other stage races had he concentrated on them, instead of racing almost every race he could enter.
Remarkable is a 48-hour spell in 1957, when Van Steenbergen raced in the Belgian Congo, Copenhagen, Paris and Liège, winning all four events.
After his career, a newspaper calculated that Van Steenbergen rode more than 1 million kilometers on a bike, the equivalent of 25 tours around the world.
In total, he won no less than 1,645 races, of which 331 road races and 1,314 track races.[6]
Riding style
editThe muscular Van Steenbergen was known for his sprints and final jumps at finishes.
Van Steenbergen did not allow himself to be forced into a straitjacket. Nor did he want to surround himself too much with helpers. That gave him too much responsibility to have to win.
He preferred to go his own way, like a free bird in the peloton. On the road, he single-handedly arranged what needed to be done. That usually depended on his fitness, because Van Steenbergen never knew whether he was going to ride well or not, it only became apparent in the race. In that respect, he thrived on impulses.[7]
Motivation
editHis big drive was his addiction to cycling. Van Steenbergen really enjoyed the atmosphere and competition in races and was noticed whistling on his bicycle on several occasions.
Another important aspect was the money that could be earned. His background as the child of a poor family, combined with the situation in post-war Belgium undoubtedly contributed to this. After Van Steenbergen won a classic, he rode numerous other races. And only when the starting money started to decrease, he began aiming on another classic.
From 1960, he also focused more on track cycling. The bigger contracts in this sport and the stifling rivalry withRik Van Looywere the main drivers of that conscious choice.
At the time he stopped cycling, Van Steenbergen owned several properties and flats in Belgium and Sardinia.[8]
Retirement
editAt the age of 42, Van Steenbergen ended his career in a packed Brussels Sports Palace.
Unprepaired for the life without cycling, he entered a dark period afterwards.
"It wasn't easy to get into mainstream society when they've been kissing your shoes for twenty years."Van Steenbergen later said.
He was named in connection with many unsavory practices. He had a gambling addiction and was suspected of drug trafficking, conspiracy and incitement to debauchery.[9] During this period, in 1968, he also starred in the Belgian adult moviePandoreas the character Dimitri. In the context of that era the film was a sensational, provocative, scandal movie,[9]although nowadays it wouldn't be labeled as an adult movie at all.[10]
Van Steenbergen also ended up in jail for a while. He came close to prison for smuggling a suspect package over the Dutch border.[11]But his marriage with the British Doreen Hewitt saved him from ruin and he got his life back on track.[12]
Despite the many side issues, he maintained his popularity among the cycling public. Later in life he became a welcome guest at sports evenings, competitions and television debates.
Death and commemoration
editRik Van Steenbergen died inAntwerpafter a prolonged sickness, at the age of 78. The funeral was in theSint PauluskerkofWestmalle,attended by about 2000 people, includingEddy Merckx,Rik Van Looy,Roger De Vlaeminck,Walter Godefroot,Johan De Muynck,Lucien Van Impe,Freddy MaertensandBriek Schotte.TheUCIpresidentHein Verbruggenand Belgian prime ministerGuy Verhofstadtalso attended.
The following year, a statue was erected in his honour on the Wampenberg inArendonk.
Career achievements
editHighlights
edit- 3 World Road Cycling Championships (1949, 1956, 1957)
- 8 major classics wins (Tour of Flandersx 2,Paris–Roubaixx 2,La Flèche Wallonnex 2,Paris–Brussels,Milan–San Remo)
- 7 Belgian Road Championships
- 4 Stage wins in theTour de France
- 15 Stage wins in theGiro d'Italia(including second overall 1951)
- 6 Stage wins in theVuelta a España
- 6 European Track Championships
- 40 Six Day wins
- 11 Belgian Track Championships
Records
edit- Record ofmost successful World Cycling Champion(3x gold, 1x bronze), shared withAlfredo Binda&Óscar Freire[13]
- MostCritérium des Aswins: 5 in 1948, 1952, 1955, 1957 & 1958
- MostAcht van Chaamwins: 3 in 1956, 1958, 1960 (shared record)
- MostSix Days of Brusselswins: 8 in 1948, 1949, 1951, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962
- MostSix Days of Madridwins: 3 in 1963, 1964, 1965
- Most track races won: 1,314 between 1939 and 1966
Awards and honours
edit- Ruban Jaune:1948->1955[14]
- Officer in the BelgianOrder of Leopold II:1957[2]
- Best foreign rider award:1951 Giro d'Italia
- Millionär auf Zwei Rädern,a German movie about him: 1965
- SwissAIOCC Trophy (fr):1967[15]
- Medal of honour of theCity of Brussels:1967
- Bust by theKBWB:1967
- GP Rik Van Steenbergen:from 1991[16]
- Rik van Steenbergen Classic from 1999[17]
- Province of Antwerpsportsman of the 20th Century: 2000[18]
- Introduced in theUCI Hall of Fame:2002
- Bust in Arendonk: 2004[19]
- UCI Top 100 of All Time:4,900 points
Books
edit- Rik Van Steenbergen: Het kind der godenby Peter Woeti in 1957. Hidawa, 80 p. (Dutch)
- Rik van SteenbergenbyFred De Bruynein 1963. G. Kolff, 41 p. (Dutch)
- De Miljoenenfiets van Rik Van Steenbergenby Achille Van Den Broeck in 1966. De Brauwere, 391 p. (Dutch)
- Rik I van Steenbergenby René Vermeiren, Hugo De Meyer in 1999. De Eecloonaar, 272 p.ISBN9789074128568(Dutch, French, English, Italian, Spanish)
- Rik I Memorial (1924 - 2003)by René Vermeiren in 2003. De Eecloonaar, 56 p.ISBN9789074128957(Dutch)
- Rik Van Steenbergen. Das Ass der Asseby Walter Rottiers. Bielefeld in 2005, Covadonga-Verlag, 144 p.ISBN9783936973150(German)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^The Bicycle, UK, 31 May 1950, p. 4
- ^abVanysacker, Dries (2011). "Kop 23 - Rik Van Steenbergen (1924-2003): Voor alles broodrenner".Vlaamse Wielerkoppen(in Dutch). Davidsfonds. pp. 197–201.ISBN9789058268181.
- ^""Op een oude fiets moet je het leren". Over de West-Vlaamse inwijdingsperiode van Rik Van Steenbergen "(in Dutch). servicekoers.be. 31 August 2022.
- ^"De bedrieger bedrogen"(in Dutch).De Volkskrant.9 October 1999.
- ^"De bedrieger bedrogen"(in Dutch).De Volkskrant.9 October 1999.
- ^"Een wielercarrière van ongeveer één miljoen kilometers".De Volkskrant(in Dutch).Retrieved16 May2003.
- ^Sys, Jacques (2020). "Rik Van Steenbergen - The Boss".Top 1000 van de Belgische wielrenners(in Dutch).Lanoo.pp. 167–1971.ISBN9789401467254.
- ^"The Cash Machine- Rik Van Steenbergen".cyclinglegends.co.uk.
- ^abPiedfort, Dominique (8 September 2010)."Wielerlegende Rik Van Steenbergen duikt op in seksfilm"[Cycling legend Rik Van Steenbergen appears in adult movie].Gazet van Antwerpen(in Dutch).
- ^"Pandore (1968)".Internet Movie Database.
- ^Fotheringham, William (24 May 2003)."Obituary: Henri Van Steenbergen".The Guardian.ISSN0261-3077.Retrieved6 January2020.
- ^maj (8 September 2010)."Bioscoop speelt seksfilm met Rik Van Steenbergen"[Cinema plays adult movie with Rik Van Steenbergen].De Standaard(in Dutch).
- ^"World Professional (Elite) Road Cycling Championship".
- ^"Palmarès de Rik van Steenbergen".
- ^"2017 AIOCC TROPHY".
- ^"Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen start en komt aan in 'zijn' Arendonk:" Het moeten niet altijd de grootsteden zijn ""(in Dutch).Het Laatste Nieuws.29 September 2022.
- ^"Top Ride: The Rik Van Steenbergen Classic".pezcyclingnews.Retrieved12 March2015.
- ^"Achiel Bruneel en Rik Van Steenbergen".kempenskarakter(in Dutch).
- ^"Arendonk onthult standbeeld Rik Van Steenbergen".De Standaard(in Dutch). 5 October 2004.