Erik De Vlaeminck facts for kids
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De Vlaeminck at the 1970 Amstel Gold Race
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| Personal information | |||
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| Born | 23 March 1945 Eeklo, Belgium |
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| Died | 4 December 2015 (aged 70) Eeklo, Belgium |
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| Team information | |||
| Discipline | Cyclo-cross/Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Erik De Vlaeminck (born March 23, 1945 – died December 4, 2015) was a famous Belgian cyclist. He is best known for being a true legend in cyclo-cross, a type of bike racing that happens off-road. He won the World Championship in cyclo-cross an amazing seven times! This is a record for male riders.
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A Champion Cyclist: Erik De Vlaeminck's Career
Erik De Vlaeminck was a very talented cyclist. He was especially good at cyclo-cross, which is a tough sport. Riders race bikes over different types of ground, like mud, grass, and sand. They even have to carry their bikes over obstacles!
World and National Titles
Erik won the World Cyclo-cross Championship seven times. He won in 1966, and then every year from 1968 to 1973. He missed winning in 1967 because his bike got damaged during the race.
He also became the Belgian National Champion four times. He won these titles in 1967, 1969, 1971, and 1972. At that time, Belgium had many strong cyclo-cross riders. This meant winning the national championship was often just as hard as winning the world title!
Success in Road Racing
Even though he was a cyclo-cross star, Erik also did very well in road races. These races happen on paved roads. In 1969, he won the Tour of Belgium, which is a stage race. He also won a stage in the famous Tour de France in 1968. Winning a stage in the Tour de France is a big achievement for any cyclist.
Becoming a Coach
After his racing career, Erik De Vlaeminck became the national cyclo-cross coach for Belgium. He helped lead the Belgian team to many international wins. He was proud of the success cyclo-cross brought to Belgium. However, he often felt that road racing got more money and attention than cyclo-cross.
Erik De Vlaeminck's Personal Life
Erik De Vlaeminck was the brother of another famous cyclist, Roger De Vlaeminck. Roger was also a very successful rider, known for winning many classic road races.
Sadly, Erik's son, Geert, passed away at age 26 during a cyclo-cross race.
In his later years, Erik De Vlaeminck faced health challenges. He had Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. He passed away on December 4, 2015, at the age of 70.
Honors and Recognition
Erik De Vlaeminck's amazing achievements are still remembered today.
Since the year 2000, an annual cyclo-cross race is held in his honor. It is called the Grand Prix Eric De Vlaeminck and takes place in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.
In 2002, Erik De Vlaeminck was added to the UCI Cycling Hall of Fame. This is a special place for the greatest cyclists in history.
Major Achievements in Cycling
Erik De Vlaeminck had many important wins during his career. Here are some of his biggest achievements:
Road Racing Highlights
- 1968
- Won Stage 2 of the Tour de France
- Won the GP Union Dortmund
- 1969
- Won the Overall Tour of Belgium
- Won the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen
- Won the Omloop der Vlaamse Ardennen
- 1970
- Won the Overall Paris–Luxembourg race
- Won the Grand Prix of Aargau Canton
- 1977
- Won Stage 2 of the Tour d'Indre-et-Loire
Cyclo-cross Racing Highlights
- 1966
- Won the UCI World CX Championships
- Won the National CX Championships
- 1968
- Won the UCI World CX Championships
- Won the National CX Championships
- 1969
- Won the UCI World CX Championships
- 1970
- Won the UCI World CX Championships
- 1971
- Won the UCI World CX Championships
- Won the National CX Championships
- 1972
- Won the UCI World CX Championships
- Won the National CX Championships
- 1973
- Won the UCI World CX Championships
- 1977
- Won a Bronze Medal at the UCI World CX Championships
