Rik Van Steenbergen

[Bart]

died this evening at the age of 78.

I

 

[Ronde Champ]

Is that Ted Danson's father in law?

Thanks, Ronde Champ

"Bart" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> died this evening at the age of 78.
>
> I

 

[Mark & Steven B]

Bart wrote:

> died this evening at the age of 78.
>
> I

Sad to hear. He might easily be on anyone's list of the greatest.

Steve

--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS Brooklyn, NY 718-258-5001 http://www.dentaltwins.com

 

[Ewoud Dronkert]

On Thu, 15 May 2003 15:11:31 -0400, ronde champ wrote:
>Is that Ted Danson's father in law?

No they are from the poor branch without the "Van".

 

[J999w]

Robert Stack died too. 84?

jw

 

[Benjo Maso]

"Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Bart wrote:
>
> > died this evening at the age of 78.
> >
> > I
>
> Sad to hear. He might easily be on anyone's list of the greatest.

Without any doubt. In his career Van Steenbergen won 952 races, 322 on the road and 630 on the
track. And yet, according to many insiders he sold more races than he won. Van Steenbergen make no
secret of riding for the money in the fitrst place. If losing was bringing in more money than
winning, he didn't hesitate to loose. He was not interested in building up a palmares, he only won
important races to increase his market value at kermesses and trackraces. He always put a clausule
in his contracts that after he had won a classic, he didn't have to participate to other road races.
For instance, after his victory in Milan-San Remo in 1954 he only participated to the Giro (winning
4 stages). The rest of the year he was travelling around Europe, showing up everywhere were they was
ready to pay him a starting fee. He never took a week off and usually slept in his car to save
money. Yet he had a very long career. He became Belgian champion 18, won the Ronde van Vlaanderen at
19 and ended his career at 42. In between he became three times worldchampion, won Paris-Roubaix
(twice), the Ronde (twice), the Flèche Wallone (twice), Paris Bruxelles and Milan-San Remo. Between
1946 and 1958 he was almost unbeatable in the sprint, and if he had been protected by a team like
Saeco or Telekom (unthinkable in the 1950's) nobody could have beaten him in the classics. He was
much too heavy to a good climber (83 kg), but was still capable of finishing second in a Giro
d'Italia (after Magni, but before Kübler, Coppi, Koblet, Bobet, Bartali, etc.). After his stopped
racing he really didn't know what to do. He he a short career as an actor in soft porno-movies, and
was arrested and convicted because of his connections with a criminal organisation. But because he
was really a good man at heart and had as a rider always been completely honest and even generous,
the cycling world quickly forgave him and until a few month ago he was ofteen seen at races in
Belgium. He was especially very happy with the creation of the Grand Prix Rik van Steenbergen some
twelve years ago. May he rest in peace.

Benjo Maso

 

[Ewoud Dronkert]

On Thu, 15 May 2003 22:22:34 +0100, benjo maso wrote:
>He became Belgian champion 18, won the Ronde van Vlaanderen at 19 and ended his career at 42. In
>between he became three times worldchampion, won Paris-Roubaix (twice), the Ronde (twice), the
>Flèche Wallone (twice), Paris Bruxelles and Milan-San Remo. [...] May he rest in peace.

What a god.

 

[Steven Bornfeld]

benjo maso wrote:
> "Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>
>>Bart wrote:
>>
>>
>>>died this evening at the age of 78.
>>>
>>>I
>>
>> Sad to hear. He might easily be on anyone's list of the greatest.
>
>
>
> Without any doubt. In his career Van Steenbergen won 952 races, 322 on the road and 630 on the
> track. And yet, according to many insiders he sold more races than he won. Van Steenbergen make no
> secret of riding for the money in the fitrst place. If losing was bringing in more money than
> winning, he didn't hesitate to loose. He was not interested in building up a palmares, he only won
> important races to increase his market value at kermesses and trackraces. He always put a clausule
> in his contracts that after he had won a classic, he didn't have to participate to other road
> races. For instance, after his victory in Milan-San Remo in 1954 he only participated to the Giro
> (winning 4 stages). The rest of the year he was travelling around Europe, showing up everywhere
> were they was ready to pay him a starting fee. He never took a week off and usually slept in his
> car to save money. Yet he had a very long career. He became Belgian champion 18, won the Ronde van
> Vlaanderen at 19 and ended his career at 42. In between he became three times worldchampion, won
> Paris-Roubaix (twice), the Ronde (twice), the Flèche Wallone (twice), Paris Bruxelles and
> Milan-San Remo. Between 1946 and 1958 he was almost unbeatable in the sprint, and if he had been
> protected by a team like Saeco or Telekom (unthinkable in the 1950's) nobody could have beaten him
> in the classics. He was much too heavy to a good climber (83 kg), but was still capable of
> finishing second in a Giro d'Italia (after Magni, but before Kübler, Coppi, Koblet, Bobet,
> Bartali, etc.). After his stopped racing he really didn't know what to do. He he a short career as
> an actor in soft porno-movies, and was arrested and convicted because of his connections with a
> criminal organisation. But because he was really a good man at heart and had as a rider always
> been completely honest and even generous, the cycling world quickly forgave him and until a few
> month ago he was ofteen seen at races in Belgium. He was especially very happy with the creation
> of the Grand Prix Rik van Steenbergen some twelve years ago. May he rest in peace.
>
> Benjo Maso

I was hoping you'd post. You (Or I, in any case) can't find this info in the states. Thanks,

Steve

>

 

[Chris Mitchell]

"Steven Bornfeld" > wrote in message
> benjo maso wrote:
> > "Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS" wrote in message
> >>Bart wrote:
> >>
> >>>died this evening at the age of 78.
> >>
> >> Sad to hear. He might easily be on anyone's list of the greatest.

> >
> > Without any doubt. In his career Van Steenbergen won 952 races, 322 on
the
> > road and 630 on the track.
> Benjo Maso
>
> I was hoping you'd post. You (Or I, in any case) can't find this info in the states. Thanks,
>
> Steve

Memory is water over a stone in the stream.. The edges are smoothed, the stone less pointed, as days
pass. Better an accurate picture, as Benjo gave us, than a place in the stream.

-Chris Mitchell

 

[Bart]

TV news showed images of his farewell track meeting. He had like an Average Master Racer's Belly.

What he said: "I regret not making enough money out of it. I liked racing too much. Organizers knew
I would agree to ride anyway."