Last week saw the sad passing of a legend of the sport who, though not as well-known outside cycling circles as his brother Roger, was still a superstar in his own right. Despite Erik De Vlaeminck winning the 1969 Tour of Belgium and a stage in the 1968 Tour de France, a second and a third in Fleche Wallonne, a fourth in Liege-Bastogne and a ninth in Paris-Roubaix, (riding for various incarnations of the Flandria team with his younger brother) he was still more associated with cyclocross-and for good reason. He was World Cyclocross champion on seven occasions (six of these consecutive from 1968-73) and Belgian National Champion four times.
A reputation for hard partying followed him for a period though he was still held in high esteem, being appointed coach of the Belgian National CX squad. De Vlaeminck spent his final years dealing with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's and will be firmly remembered as a true Flanderian.
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