Paris–Roubaix —a Belgian affair (II/V)

April 7 ^th 2022 - 12:00

Rik Van Looy,  The Emperor of Herentals (II/V) 

Black, yellow and red. Belgium's national colours shine brighter than any other on the honour roll of Paris–Roubaix, with 57 victories in 108 editions, courtesy of 41 different cyclists who rode across the border and to glory on the cobblestones of northern France.  

At a time when national champion Wout van Aert is tipped as a hot favourite, just a few months after rising star Florian Vermeersch stormed to a sensational podium finish in his debut in the Queen of Classics, much in the same vein as Tom Boonen, who took his last triumph here ten years ago, paris-roubaix.fr is looking back on the Roubaix careers of five great Belgian winners

A classics specialist who performed on every terrain, Rik Van Looy was the first of only three riders to win all the races now known as the five "Monuments" of cycling. The "Emperor of Herentals" already had an impressive trophy collection by the time he won his first Paris–Roubaix in 1961, elegantly clad in the world champion's rainbow jersey. Another fellow from Herentals, Wout van Aert, is also eager to prove that he has what it takes to be acclaimed emperor…