Roger de Vlaeminck Photo Gallery
Back to photo gallery rider list
Roger de Vlaeminck (born August 12, 1947) was one of the few riders to challenge Eddy Merckx when Merckx was at the peak of his powers. De Vlaemick has one of the finest records in cycling history, being one of only three men (along with Rik van Looy and Eddy Merckx) to win the five big classics. He is especially remembered for his four victories in Paris-Roubaix, a record that wasn't equaled until 2012 by Tom Boonen.
De Vlaeminck's cycling career started in cyclo-cross and he was always very good at it, having earned one world championship and three Belgian championship in the discipline. He possessed a fearsome sprint and could climb well.
His Tour de France Record is far less than his talent would cause one to expect, but his Giro d'Italia record is excellent. He won the Giro points classification three times (1972, 74 and 75), winning 22 stages along the way. Merckx said de Vlaeminck seemed to find a home in Italian cycling and his six victories in the early season Tirreno -Adriatico stage race seems to confirm this.
He never won a Grand Tour or a World Road Championship
Major victories:
1968: Belgian and World Amateur Cyclo-Cross Championship (his brother Eric became Pro World Champion the same year)
1969: Belgian Road Championship, Het Volk (Het Volk was his first pro race)
1970: Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
1971: Flèche Wallonne, 4 Days of Dunkirk, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Tour of Switzerland points classification
1972: Paris-Roubaix, Tirreno-Adriatico with 2 stage wins, Milano-Torino, Coppa Placci, Giro d'Italia Points Classification with 4 stage wins
1973: Milano-San Remo, Tirreno-Adriatico
1974: Paris-Roubaix, Tirreno-Adriatico, Milano-Torino, Giro del Veneto, Coppa Placci, Giro di Lombardia, Belgian Cyclo-Cross Championship
1975: Belgian and World Cyclo-Cross Championship, Paris-Roubaix, Championship of Zurich, Tour of Switzerland (GC, Points and 6 stage wins), Tirreno-Adriatico with 2 stage wins, Giro di Lazio, Giro d'Italia Points Classification with 7 stage wins
1976: Tirreno Adriatico with 3 stage wins, Giro di Sardinia, Giro di Lazio, Giro dell'Emilia, Coppa Agostoni, Giro di Lombardia
1977: Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix, Tirreno Adriatico with 2 stage wins, Giro del Piemonte
1978: Belgian Cyclo-Cross Championship, Milano-San Remo
1979: Het Volk, Milano San Remo, Giro di Puglia with 3 stage wins, Milano-Vignola
1980: Trofeo Mallorca with 3 stage wins
1981: Belgian Road Championship, Paris-Brussels, Flèche Brabançonne
1984: Giro di Campania
Professional Teams:
1969: Flandria-De Clercq-Krüger
1970 - 1971: Flandria-Mars
1972: Dreher
1973 - 1977: Brooklyn
1978: Sanson
1979: Gis Gelati
1980: Boule d'Or-Colnago
1981: Daf Trucks-Côte d'Or-Gazelle
1982: Daf Trucks
1983: Gios
1984: Gis Gelati-Tuc Lu
1986 - 1987: Eddy Merckx
1987: Hitachi
1988: Hitachi-Bosal
Photos:
1971 Tour de France, Stage 2: Eddy Merckx throws his bike to beat Roger de Vlaeminck in Strasbourg
De Vlaeminck in 1972
1973 Omloop Het Volk: Roger der Vlaeminck and Merckx have broken away. Late in the race Merckx would drop de Vlaeminck and finish two seconds ahead.
Another shot of the de Vlaeminck-Merckx break.
De Vlaeminck in 1974
Brooklyn/Gios poster featuring de Vlaeminck
1975 Giro d'Italia, stage 6: De Vlaeminck is victorious in Castrovillari. Rim van Linden is on his right.
De Vlaeminck (Brooklyn) seems to be outsprinting Franco Bitossi (Zonca) in the 1976 Trofeo Laigueglia. But note the fallen riders behind them. De Vlaeminck was disqualified and Bitossi was awarded the race.
1976 Giro d'Italia, stage 19: De Vlaeminck ascends Torri del Vajolet. Note the unpaved road.
Roger de Vlaeminck in 1979.
De Vlaeminck in 1983
De Vlaeminck in 1984
De Vlaeminck in 1984
De Vlaeminck in 1986