De Flandriens

In a span of six years, Rik van Looy won the Tour of Flanders twice and Paris-Roubaix three times. He was the absolute patron of the peloton until a new cycling god appeared on the scene in 1966: Eddy Merckx. The torch transfer was not without a struggle. Merckx accused Van Looy in the media of sucking wheels and the fence was gone. The battle culminated in the 1968 Tour of Flanders, when Rik found an ally in Walter Godefroot. He was the only one who was able to beat Merckx in the cobbled classics at the time.

In the early 1970s, a cunning West Flemish with fast legs outdid the top favorites in the Tour of Flanders: Eric Leman. He wins "Flanders most beautiful" three times in four years. Yet Lemantje has to fight for every ounce of respect from the press, from the competition and especially from Walter Godefroot. The two rivals Leman and Godefroot give each other anything and ride on the cobbles more against each other than for the victory. The undisputed patron of the peloton remains eternal winner Eddy Merkcx. More than thirty years after the event, he gives Leman a deserved reparation. Roger De Vlaeminck does not let it all get to his heart. He wins three times in the Hell of the North and little by little becomes who he is today: Monsieur Paris-Roubaix.

In 1976, the Koppenberg is included for the first time in the Tour of Flanders and that immediately creates a spectacle. It is no coincidence there that Freddy Maertens changes bikes in the infamous Tour of Flanders of 1977. That edition is the most talked about ever, but more than thirty years after the fact, startling statements are still emerging. Winner Roger De Vlaeminck and Freddy Maertens testify as if it were yesterday. De Vlaeminck wins Paris-Roubaix that same year, setting the historic record of four victories. In 1978 Walter Godefroot is 35 years old but not yet worn out. He makes himself heard again in the Tour of Flanders and wins ten years after his first victory. This is how he concludes a glorious Flandrien generation. The call for a successor after that is great. Eric Vanderaerden is soon launched by the media as the new Merckx and he has to live up to the great expectations ...

In 1988 Eddy Planckaert is for the first time in his career as the absolute leader at the start of the Tour of Flanders. In the ADR jersey and therefore without leader Eric Vanderaerden. And with success, because Planckaert wins his first major classic after eight years. Two years later he also writes Paris-Roubaix after his name in an inimitable way. Planckaert is a late bloomer, unlike his successor Edwig Van Hooydonck. He is only 22 when he conquers the hearts of cycling-loving Flanders in the 1989 Tour of Flanders. On the highest scaffold, a very happy Van Hooydonck gives way to tears. In the Tour of 1991 he repeats this success, but the tears are gone. The last highlight of a much too short career. Moreover, Van Hooydonck has to deal with an emerging West Flemish who will have no equal in the classic work of the 1990s: Johan Museeuw.

Johan Museeuw has an impressive record of achievements and is increasingly becoming the Lion of Flanders. But in 1998 disaster strikes Paris-Roubaix. Museeuw falls heavily on the smooth cobbles of Wallers and there are fears for the end of his career. But a Flandrien keeps on fighting, even after the worst setbacks. The Lion bites back with bravado and wins the Hell Classic twice more. In the meantime, an alert East Fleming often rides in the peloton in the vicinity of Museeuw: Peter Van Petegem. In the process he learns from the master and in the 1999 Tour of Flanders, Van Petegem took his chances. In a prestige sprint with godchild Frank Vandenbroucke and idol Museeuw, Van Petegem wins Flanders' finest. Three years later, a young Flandrien from Balen shows that he is ready to take over from the old generation: Tom Boonen.

In 2003, after 26 years, another Belgian wins the double Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix: Peter Van Petegem. Our cycling country is bathed in luxury, because barely two years later Tom Boonen is imitating that feat. Boonen becomes a world star in Flanders in 2005 and goes one step further by winning the 2006 Tour in the rainbow jersey. The hype is huge, but a hijacker is appearing on the coast. None other than teammate Stijn Devolder surprises Boonen in the Tour of 2008. The ambitious Devolder does not care about Boonen's top manners and Quickstep's team play. He does not like the ears and is resolutely committed to his own success. From then on, Boonen and Devolder have to divide the winnings in Flanders' Most Beautiful and the Hell of the North. And that does not just happen without a fight ...