Belgian Olympic cycling champion Rick van Loy has died

The winner of the 1952 Olympic Games in cycling, the legendary Belgian athlete Rick van Loy died at the age of 90. This was reported on Wednesday, December 18, the press service of the Tour de France.

"Emperor Herentals is no more. A tribute to the legend Rick van Loy, the man who won 371 professional victories, the first winner of stage five, two-time world champion, seven-time winner of stages of the Tour de France," reads a message on X (former Twitter).

The causes and circumstances of his death are not specified.

The Belgian cyclist was born on December 20, 1933. He was the 1952 Olympic champion in the team race and a two-time world champion in 1960 and 1961. He won 37 grand tour stage victories and was the first in history to win all five of the most prestigious one-day races.