Erik De Vlaeminck

Erik De Vlaeminck (23 March 1945 − 4 December 2015) was a Belgian cyclist who became cyclo-cross world-champion seven times (in 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973), a record for male riders until it was equalled and eventually surpassed by Mathieu van der Poel.

Professional career De Vlaeminck missed 1967 only because his bike was damaged during the race. He also became Belgian champion four times (1967, 1969, 1971, 1972) at a time when there were so many good Belgian riders that the domestic championship was often harder than the world-championship.

He also performed creditably in road races, including the Tour de France. In 1969 he won the Tour of Belgium and a stage in the Tour de France.

De Vlaeminck never failed a drugs test in his racing career but was treated after it for amphetamine addiction. Many stories circulate about his supposed wild behaviour after races and after his career was over. When he returned to racing, the Belgian federation would offer him a license for only a day at a time until it saw how his life would progress. De Vlaeminck subsequently refused to speak about this period of his life.

His re-establishment was complete, however, because he became the national cyclo-cross coach and led Belgium to a dominating period of international success. He always complained, however, that while cyclo-cross brought Belgium its world championship medals, it was to road racing that the bulk of the funds were given.

Personal life De Vlaeminck was the brother of Roger De Vlaeminck. His son Geert died, aged 26, of a heart attack in a cyclo-cross race while his father was watching.

In later life, De Vlaeminck had Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. He died on 4 December 2015 at the age of 70.

Honours From 2000, an annual cyclo-cross named Grand Prix Eric De Vlaeminck is organized in Heusden-Zolder,

De Vlaeminck was introduced in the UCI Cycling Hall of Fame in 2002.

Major results Road

1968 Stage 2 Tour de France 1st Circuit du Tournaisis 1st GP Union Dortmund 1969

1st Stage 1 1st Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen 1st Omloop der Vlaamse Ardennen 1st Stage 1 GP du Midi Libre 1st Ronde van West-Vlaanderen 1st Dwars door West-Vlaanderen 2nd La Flèche Wallonne 2nd Boucles de l'Aulne 2nd GP Roeselare 2nd Leeuwse Pijl 3rd Gent–Wevelgem 3rd Elfstedenronde 3rd Omloop der Zennevallei 3rd Renaix-Tournai-Renaix 3rd Omloop van het Waasland 1970 1st Ronde van West-Vlaanderen

1st Grand Prix of Aargau Canton 2nd Omloop der drie Provinciën 3rd Elfstedenronde 3rd La Flèche Wallonne 3rd Overall Tour of Belgium 3rd GP Flandria 1971 1st GP Flandria 1st Prologue Tour of Luxembourg 1st De Panne II 2nd Prix de St. Amands 1972 2nd Grote Prijs Marcel Kint 1977 7th Overall Tour d'Indre-et-Loire

1st Stage 2 3rd E3 Harelbeke

Cyclo-cross

1963 2nd Cyclo-cross Zonhoven 2nd Druivencross Overijse 1964 3rd Jaarmarktcross Niel 3rd Druivencross Overijse 1965 1st Jaarmarktcross Niel 1st Druivencross Overijse 1st Grand Prix du Nouvel-An 1966 1st World cyclo-cross championship 1st National cyclo-cross championships 1st Jaarmarktcross Niel 1st Noordzeecross Middelkerke 1st Druivencross Overijse 1967 1st Jaarmarktcross Niel 1st Druivencross Overijse 1st Cyclocross Vossem 1968 1st World cyclo-cross championship 1st National cyclo-cross championships 1st Jaarmarktcross Niel 1st Druivencross Overijse 1st Cyclocross Vossem 1st Cyclocross Asse 1st Cyclocross Berlin 1st Cyclocross Eeklo 1st Cyclocross Fribourg 1st Cyclocross Gelsenkirchen 1st Cyclocross Hannover 1st Cyclocross Rieux 1st Cyclocross Tervuren 1st Cyclocross Wetteren 1969 1st World cyclo-cross championship 1st Noordzeecross Middelkerke 1st Flemish championship cyclo racing 1st Cyclocross Binningen 1st Cyclocross Erembodegem 1st Cyclocross Lucerne 1st Cyclocross Mannheim 1st Cyclocross Stuttgart 1st Cyclocross Vaprio d'Agogna 1st Cyclocross Westerburg 2nd Druivencross Overijse 2nd Cyclocross Vossem 1970 1st World cyclo-cross championship 1st Duinencross Koksijde 1st Noordzeecross Middelkerke 1st Provincial Championship Cyclocross Waasmunster 1st Cyclophile Aigle 1st Novate Milanese 1st Cyclocross Pieterlen 1st Cyclocross Estavayer 1st Cyclocross Heusden 1st Cyclocross Otegem 1971 1st World cyclo-cross championship 1st National cyclo-cross championships 1st Duinencross Koksijde 1st Noordzeecross Middelkerke 1st Druivencross Overijse 1st Cyclophile Aigle 1972 1st World cyclo-cross championship 1st National cyclo-cross championships 1st Druivencross Overijse 1st Novate Milanese 1st Cyclocross Zürich 1973 1st World cyclo-cross championship 1st Noordzeecross Middelkerke 1st Cyclocross Valladolid 3rd Druivencross Overijse 1975 1st Noordzeecross Middelkerke 1st Cyclo-cross Championship of Hainaut

1976 1st Druivencross Overijse

1977

1978 1st Cyclo-cross Gavere 1979 1st Jaarmarktcross Niel