Roger De Vlaeminck

Roger De Vlaeminck (; born 24 August 1947) is a Belgian former professional racing cyclist. He was described by Rik Van Looy as "The most talented and the only real classics rider of his generation". Nicknamed "The Gypsy" because he was born into a family of traveling clothiers, he is known for exploits in the cobbled classic Paris–Roubaix race, but his performances in other "Monument" races gave him a record that few can match. His record in Paris–Roubaix earned him another nickname, "Monsieur Paris–Roubaix".

Early life and amateur career

De Vlaeminck was born on 24 August 1947 in the East Flanders town of Eeklo, His first love was football. At the age of 16 he debuted for F.C. Eeklo. He could have made a career in the sport, however his elder brother Erik was having success as a pro cyclist and this persuaded Roger to try cycling. He raced as a junior in 1965, gaining one win, but 1966 saw 25 victories. Roger and Erik spent their winters riding cyclo-cross. In Luxembourg in 1968, Erik became world professional champion and Roger the amateur champion on the same day. Roger eventually took the professional title in 1975.

In 1968 De Vlaeminck rode the road race at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico and finished 18th.

Professional career

De Vlaeminck turned professional at the start of the 1969 season with Flandria-Declerck and won the Omloop "Het Volk" in his first race. De Vlaeminck's career ran parallel with Eddy Merckx and he battled for ascendancy with Merckx throughout his career. De Vlaeminck rode Paris–Roubaix on 14 occasions, winning four times (1972, 1974, 1975, 1977), finished second four times, third once, fifth once, sixth once, seventh twice and abandoned only in 1980. His skills as a cyclo-cross rider made him an expert on the cobbles of northern France which the race crosses. De Vlaeminck used the early season Italian stage race Tirreno–Adriatico as training for the spring classics. He dominated the race between 1972 and 1977, winning every edition and taking 15 stages. His six victories are the most of all time and no other rider has won the race more than twice.

De Vlaeminck is one of only three riders to have won all five 'Monuments of Cycling' (i.e., Milan–San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Giro di Lombardia). The other two are fellow Belgians Rik van Looy and Eddy Merckx. In total De Vlaeminck won 11 Monument races, and finished in the top ten on an additional 25 occasions. The only major one-day race he did not win was the world road race championship, his best performance was second to Dutchman Hennie Kuiper in 1975.

He rode three Tours de France, winning stage 6 in 1970 between Amiens and Valenciennes. De Vlaeminck took the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia on three occasions as well as 22 stages overall including seven stages in 1975. He took a stage win in the Vuelta a España in his final season in 1984. His career lasted 15 years and he eventually had 259 road race victories. He always kept active in cyclo-cross, resulting in 70 cyclo-cross victories and a world title in 1975. De Vlaeminck also had a few successes on track, with several podium finishes in Six-Day races and a national Madison title in 1972 alongside Patrick Sercu. This makes him the only cyclist who won a Belgian national championship in road cycling, cyclo-cross and track cycling.

Rivalry with Merckx

In 1970, Rik Van Looy ended his career and many fans then focused on Roger De Vlaeminck as his successor. Another young rider who could succeed Van Looy was Eddy Merckx. When the professional careers of both riders had just started, De Vlaeminck always wanted to beat Merckx. He was even disappointed if someone else came in second, because then people could say he had no opposition. After racing against each other for a number of years, the two started to think differently about each other. De Vlaeminck gained respect for Merckx's performance and Merckx appreciated that his competitor always fought him with an open mind.

De Vlaeminck also believes that there were others who benefited from the competition between him and Merckx. He often restricted his competitor, but this cost so much strength that someone else took advantage of it. De Vlaeminck also says that he could have won some races if Merckx had not participated, but in other races he drove better because he never wanted to be inferior to his competitor.

Ultimately, De Vlaeminck named his son Eddy De Vlaeminck, after his competitor.

Post-career

De Vlaeminck, who lives on a farm in Kaprijke, is still in cycling. He has been coaching cyclo-cross riders. In April 2004 he quit his job as coach to the John Saey-Deschacht team in Belgium to spend more time with his family, However he was tempted back to the sport in November 2004 as advisor to the Zimbabwe team as it prepared for the world championship in St. Wendel, Germany, at the end of January 2005.

De Vlaeminck is known for firm opinions about cycling and is often consulted by journalists. In particular, he criticizes the trend to have multiple leaders in a team. That, he says, means the best racers share important races between them. De Vlaeminck is also known for his harsh opinion of Tom Boonen, calling him unworthy of equaling his Paris–Roubaix record of 4 wins, claiming cycling is not as hard as it used to be. This led to the meme "In den tijd van Roger De Vlaeminck ..." ("in the days of Roger De Vlaeminck") where De Vlaeminck was attributed to doing all kinds of unrealistic stuff.

Major results

Cyclo-cross

1967

2nd National Championships

1968

1st UCI World Amateur Championships

1st National Amateur Championships

1st Noordzeecross Middelkerke

1969

1st National Amateur Championships

1st Duinencross Koksijde

2nd UCI World Amateur Championships

2nd National Championships

1970

1st Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse

3rd Jaarmarktcross Niel

1972

1st Duinencross Koksijde

1st Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse

1974

1st National Championships

1st Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse

2nd UCI World Championships

1975

1st UCI World Championships

1st National Championships

3rd Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse

1978

1st National Championships

1st Vlaamse Druivenveldrit Overijse

1979

1st Superprestige Diegem

2nd National Championships

1981

1st Superprestige Diegem

Road

1966

4th Road race, UCI World Junior Championships

1967

1st Stage 4 Amateur Tour of Belgium

1st Stage 4

3rd Road race, National Amateur Championships

7th Road race, UCI World Amateur Championships

1968

1st Road race, National Amateur Championships

1st Overall Amateur Tour of Belgium

:1st Stage 8

1st Flèche Ardennaise

10th Overall Tour de l'Avenir

:1st Points classification

:1st Stages 10a & 10b (ITT)

1969 <small>(5 pro wins)</small>

1st Road race, National Championships

1st Omloop Het Volk

1st Brussels–Ingooigem

1st Baden-Baden (with Herman Vanspringel)

1st Stage 3 Tour of Belgium

2nd Milan–San Remo

2nd Gent–Wevelgem

2nd Scheldeprijs

2nd Omloop der Zennevallei

2nd Grote Prijs Jef Scherens

3rd GP Stad Vilvoorde

3rd Züri–Metzgete

3rd Overall Paris-Luxembourg

3rd Wattrelos-Meulebeke

5th Paris–Roubaix

6th Overall Tour de Luxembourg

6th La Flèche Wallonne

Tour de France

:Held after Stages 7–8b

:Held after Stages 1a–5

1970 <small>(7)</small>

1st Liège–Bastogne–Liège

1st Omloop der Beide Vlaanderen

1st Scheldeprijs

1st Druivenkoers Overijse

1st Omloop van het Houtland

Tour de France

:1st Stage 6

:Held after Stage 6

1st Prologue (TTT) Four Days of Dunkirk

2nd Paris–Roubaix

2nd E3 Prijs Vlaanderen

3rd Wattrelos-Meulebeke

3rd GP Roeselare

4th Overall Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré

:1st Points classification

:1st Stage 4

5th Paris–Tours

5th Circuit des Onze Villes

5th Brussels–Ingooigem

6th Coppa Agostoni

8th Omloop Het Volk

10th Omloop van het Zuidwesten

1971 <small>(13)</small>

1st Overall Four Days of Dunkirk

:1st Stage 2

1st La Flèche Wallonne

1st E3 Prijs Vlaanderen

1st Omloop der Beide Vlaanderen

1st Omloop van het Zuidwesten

1st Omloop van de Westhoek

Tour de la Nouvelle France

:1st Stage 1 & 4

2nd Gent–Wevelgem

3rd Overall Vuelta a Andalucía

:1st Mountains classification

:1st Prologue a & Stage 4

3rd Brabantse Pijl

4th Overall Tour de Suisse

:1st Points classification

:1st Stage 3

4th Circuit des Onze Villes

4th GP Union Dortmund

5th Herinneringsprijs Dokter Tistaert – Prijs Groot-Zottegem

7th Paris–Roubaix

7th Druivenkoers Overijse

8th Giro di Lombardia

10th Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen

Tour de France

:Held after Stages 2–6b

1972 <small>(13)</small>

1st Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

:1st Stages 4 & 5b

1st Paris–Roubaix

1st Milano–Torino

1st Druivenkoers Overijse

1st Coppa Placci

1st Gran Premio Città di Camaiore

1st Halse Pijl

1st Stage 1 Giro di Sardegna

3rd Grand Prix Pino Cerami

4th Paris–Tours

4th Trofeo Laigueglia

4th Coppa Agostoni

6th Giro di Puglia

6th GP Montelupo

7th Overall Giro d'Italia

:1st Points classification

:1st Stages 6, 15, 18 & 19a

7th Giro di Toscana

7th Giro del Lazio

8th Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen

9th Giro di Campania

10th

1973 <small>(12)</small>

1st Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

:1st Mountains classification

:1st Stage 5a

1st Milan–San Remo

1st Giro di Toscana

1st Trofeo Matteotti

1st Circuit de l'Aulne

1st Omloop van het Zuidwesten

1st Grand Prix de Monaco

Giro d'Italia

:1st Stages 2, 11 & 13

:Held after Stages 15–17

2nd Giro di Lombardia

2nd Paris–Tours

2nd Coppa Bernocchi

2nd Coppa Sabatini

2nd Omloop Het Volk

2nd Trofeo Laigueglia

2nd Omloop der Zennevallei

3rd Omloop van de Westhoek

3rd Milano–Torino

4th Road race, National Championships

4th Coppa Placci

6th Overall Giro di Sardegna

:1st Stage 3 & 6

6th Coppa Placci

7th Paris–Roubaix

8th Brabantse Pijl

8th GP Union Dortmund

10th Gran Premio Città di Camaiore

1974 <small>(11)</small>

1st Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

:1st Stage 5

1st Overall Giro di Sicilia

1st Paris–Roubaix

1st Giro di Lombardia

1st Druivenkoers Overijse

1st Giro del Veneto

1st Milano–Torino

1st Coppa Placci

Giro d'Italia

:1st Points classification

:1st Stage 4

1st Stage 2 Giro di Puglia

2nd La Flèche Wallonne

2nd Giro dell'Emilia

2nd Ronde van Limburg

2nd Paris–Brussels

2nd Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria

2nd GP Montelupo

3rd Milan–San Remo

3rd Gent–Wevelgem

3rd Circuit de l'Aulne

3rd Coppa Agostoni

3rd Grand Prix de Wallonie

3rd Gran Premio di Lugano

3rd Trofeo Baracchi (with Eddy Merckx)

4th Giro del Lazio

4th Trofeo Matteotti

4th Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato

7th Paris–Tours

7th Critérium des As

8th Giro di Campania

9th

1975 <small>(28)</small>

1st Overall Tour de Suisse

:1st Points classification

:1st Prologue & Stages 1, 3, 5, 9a & 9b (ITT)

1st Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

:1st Stages 2a, 4 & 5 (ITT)

1st Paris–Roubaix

1st Züri–Metzgete

1st Coppa Agostoni

1st GP Montelupo

1st Giro del Lazio

1st Trofeo Pantalica

1st Critérium des As

1st GP Industria & Artigianato di Larciano

1st Heusden Koers

2nd Road race, UCI World Championships

2nd Grote Prijs Marcel Kint

3rd Paris–Tours

3rd Milano–Torino

3rd Druivenkoers Overijse

3rd Trofeo Laigueglia

3rd Giro di Toscana

4th Road race, National Championships

4th Overall Giro d'Italia

:1st Points classification

:1st Stages 4, 6, 7b, 10, 11, 18 & 20

4th Giro di Lombardia

4th Scheldeprijs

4th Omloop Het Volk

6th Omloop van de Westhoek

5th Overall À travers Lausanne

5th Tre Valli Varesine

7th Giro dell'Emilia

8th Liège–Bastogne–Liège

9th La Flèche Wallonne

10th Overall Giro di Sardegna

:1st Stages 1, 4 & 5b

1976 <small>(22)</small>

1st Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

:1st Points classification

:1st Stages 3, 4 & 5b (ITT)

1st Overall Giro di Sardegna

:1st Stages 1b & 5

1st Giro di Lombardia

1st Giro dell'Emilia

1st Giro del Lazio

1st Coppa Agostoni

1st GP Montelupo

1st Sassari-Cagliari

Giro d'Italia

:1st Stages 2, 5, 8 & 16

:Held after Stages 2 & 4–5

:Held after Stages 4–19

1st Stage 3 Giro di Puglia

2nd Overall Tour de Romandie

:1st Points classification

:1st Stage 5a

2nd Scheldeprijs

2nd Tre Valli Varesine

2nd Züri–Metzgete

2nd Trofeo Pantalica

2nd Giro delle Marche

3rd Paris–Roubaix

3rd Rund um den Henninger Turm

3rd Giro di Campania

4th Tour of Flanders

5th Overall Volta a Catalunya

:1st Points classification

:1st Prologue & Stages 2 & 4a

5th Coppa Placci

6th Gent–Wevelgem

6th E3 Prijs Vlaanderen

7th Gran Premio Industria e Commercio di Prato

8th Milan–San Remo

8th Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria

1977 <small>(6)</small>

1st Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

:1st Stages 2 & 3

1st Paris–Roubaix

1st Tour of Flanders

1st Giro del Piemonte

2nd Milan–San Remo

2nd Giro del Veneto

2nd Giro di Toscana

4th Liège–Bastogne–Liège

4th Paris–Tours

4th Paris–Brussels

4th Critérium des As

5th Overall Giro di Sardegna

6th Amstel Gold Race

6th Coppa Bernocchi

8th Omloop Het Volk

7th Tre Valli Varesine

10th La Flèche Wallonne

1978 <small>(7)</small>

1st Milan–San Remo

1st Druivenkoers Overijse

1st Giro del Friuli

1st Sassari-Cagliari

Giro di Sardegna

:1st Points classification

:1st Stages 1 & 5

1st Stage 4 Giro di Puglia

2nd Paris–Roubaix

2nd Circuit de l'Aulne

3rd Giro del Lazio

4th Brussels–Ingooigem

5th Coppa Agostoni

6th Gent–Wevelgem

7th Overall Tour de l'Aude

8th Brabantse Pijl

8th Züri–Metzgete

9th Rund um den Henninger Turm

10th Road race, UCI World Championships

10th Tour of Flanders

Giro d'Italia

:Held after Stages 7, 9 & 11b

1979 <small>(14)</small>

1st Overall Giro di Puglia

:1st Stages 1, 2 & 3

1st Milan–San Remo

1st Omloop Het Volk

1st Milano–Vignola

1st

1st Gran Premio Bruno Beghelli

Giro d'Italia

:1st Stages 2, 9 & 12

:Held after Stages 11 & 12

Four Days of Dunkirk

:1st Stages 4a & 5b

2nd Paris–Roubaix

2nd Gent–Wevelgem

2nd Giro del Friuli

3rd Overall Giro del Trentino

:1st Stage 1

3rd Tre Valli Varesine

4th Züri–Metzgete

4th Trofeo Matteotti

4th Druivenkoers Overijse

4th Rund um den Henninger Turm

5th Trofeo Laigueglia

6th Overall Tirreno–Adriatico

:1st Stage 5a

7th Coppa Agostoni

10th Road race, UCI World Championships

1980 <small>(14)</small>

1st Overall Vuelta a Mallorca

:1st Prologue & Stages 1 & 4

1st Trofeo Laigueglia

1st Profronde van Stiphout

1st Heusden Koers

Tirreno–Adriatico

:1st Stages 1 & 2

Deutschland Tour

:1st Stages 1 & 2

1st Stage 1 Four Days of Dunkirk

4th Overall Giro di Sardegna

:1st Stages 1, 2a, 4 & 5

4th Tour of Flanders

5th Milan–San Remo

5th Omloop Het Volk

5th Coppa Bernocchi

6th Grote Scheldeprijs

6th Coppa Agostoni

6th Herinneringsprijs Dokter Tistaert – Prijs Groot-Zottegem

7th Road race, UCI World Championships

1981 <small>(7)</small>

1st Road race, National Championships

1st Paris–Brussels

1st Brabantse Pijl

1st Profronde van Stiphout

1st Omloop van de Grensstreek

Tour de Suisse

:1st Stages 2 & 3a

Paris–Nice

:1st Stages 2a & 4

2nd Milan–San Remo

2nd Paris–Roubaix

2nd Gent–Wevelgem

2nd Amstel Gold Race

3rd Trofeo Laigueglia

4th E3 Prijs Vlaanderen

5th Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne

6th Tour of Flanders

6th Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen

6th Herinneringsprijs Dokter Tistaert – Prijs Groot-Zottegem

7th Grand Prix de Fourmies

10th Druivenkoers Overijse

1982

2nd E3 Prijs Vlaanderen

6th Paris–Roubaix

7th Overall Three Days of De Panne

7th Liège–Bastogne–Liège

7th Trofeo Laigueglia

1983

2nd GP Dr. Eugeen Roggeman

1984 <small>(3)</small>

1st Giro di Campania

1st Stage 8 Vuelta a España

1st Stage 5 Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali

3rd Milano–Torino

3rd Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria

5th Grand Prix of Aargau Canton

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

Classics results timeline

Major championships results timeline

Track

1970

2nd Six Days of Ghent (with Peter Post)

1971

1st Six Days of Ghent (with Patrick Sercu)

2nd Six Days of Brussels (with Patrick Sercu)

1972

1st Madison, National Championships (with Patrick Sercu)

1979

2nd Six Days of Antwerp (with Patrick Sercu and Rik Van Linden)

1980

1st Six Days of Antwerp (with René Pijnen and Wilfried Peffgen)

2nd Six Days of Milan (with Alfons De Wolf)

1982

1st Six Days of Antwerp (with Patrick Sercu)

3rd Six Days of Ghent (with Patrick Sercu)

Records

• Most Tirreno–Adriatico wins: 6 in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.
• Most Paris–Roubaix wins: 4 1972, 1974, 1975 and 1977 (record shared with Tom Boonen).
• Most Druivenkoers Overijse wins: 4 1970, 1972, 1974 and 1978 (record shared with Björn Leukemans).
• The only professional who won a national championship in road cycling (1969, 1981), cyclo-cross (1974, 1975, 1978) and track cycling (1972).

Awards and honours

• : 1975
• Winner of 7 of the 8 original Classic cycle races (shared with Eddy Merckx). Rik van Looy won all 8.
• Union Cycliste Internationale Hall of Fame: 2002
• : 19th place
• Procyclingstats.com – All Time Wins Ranking: 3rd place (161 wins, shared with Mario Chipollini)
• CyclingRanking – Overall ranking: 8th place

See also

• List of riders with stage wins at all three cycling Grand Tours
• Belgium at the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
• Belgium at the UCI Road World Championships
• Cycling records
• A Sunday in Hell

Notes

References

Further reading

External links

• Complete palmares