| Nationality | Belgian |
| Born | September 9, 1924 in Arendonk, Belgium |
| Died | May 15, 2003 in Antwerp, Belgium |
| Discipline | Road and Track Cycling |
| Pro Career | 1944 – 1966 |
| Teams | Garin-Wolber (1944-1951), Elvé-Peugeot (1952-1953), Groene Leeuw (1954), Faema (1955-1960), Flandria (1961-1962), Rik Van Looy (1963-1966) |
| Major Wins | 7 Grand Tour stages, 3 World Championships, 5 Belgian National Championships, 1 Paris-Roubaix, 1 Tour of Flanders, 2 Milan-San Remo, 1 Liege-Bastogne-Liege |
Rik Van Steenbergen was a Belgian road and track cyclist who was born in Arendonk, Belgium, on September 9, 1924. He began his professional career with the Garin-Wolber squad in 1944 and competed until 1966. He rode for numerous teams during his career, including Faema, Flandria, and Rik Van Looy.
Van Steenbergen was well-known for his flexibility on both the road and the track. On the track, he won three world championships and numerous road events, including the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Milan-San Remo, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. He also won five Belgian national titles.
Van Steenbergen’s career was cut short by World War II, which obliged him to work at a German armaments factory. In 1953, he also had a devastating knee injury in a race, which nearly terminated his career. He made a spectacular turnaround, though, and continued to compete at the highest level for many years.
Van Steenbergen was a wealthy businessman in addition to his racing career, owning various hotels and restaurants in Belgium.
Rik Van Steenbergen’s Most Significant Achievements:
| Year | Achievement |
|---|---|
| 1949 | World Road Race Champion |
| 1956 | Paris-Roubaix |
| 1957 | World Track Champion – Sprint |
| 1958 | Tour of Flanders, Milan-San Remo |
| 1959 | World Track Champion – Sprint, Belgian National Road Race Champion |
| 1960 | Milan-San Remo |
| 1962 | Belgian National Road Race Champion |
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