Henri "Rik" Van Looy is a Belgian former professional cyclist of the post-war period. Nicknamed the King of the Classics or Emperor of Herentals, he dominated the classic cycle races in the late 1950s and first half of the ‘60s.
Van Looy after winning a 1956 Tour of the Netherlands stage
Van Looy talking with Jacques Anquetil in the 1964 Tour de France
Rik Van Looy wearing the Giro di Sardegna winner's jersey in 1965
Van Looy, Beheyt and De Roo on the stage of a controversial 1963 World Championship
The classic cycle races are the most prestigious one-day professional road cycling races in the international calendar. Some of these events date back to the 19th century. They are normally held at roughly the same time each year. The five most revered races are often described as the cycling monuments.
Tom Boonen followed by Fabian Cancellara in 2008 Paris–Roubaix, one of the classic cycle races.
Only Rik Van Looy could win all 8 original classics.