1957 World Championships, Official Race Poster, Winner – Rik Van Steenbergen

1957 World Cycling Championships, Belgium

This bold mid-century poster was created for the 1957 UCI World Cycling Championships held in Belgium. Against a deep blue background, a stylized racer in the world champion’s rainbow bands dives out of the top of the image, banking around a golden globe wrapped in a laurel wreath and encircled by the rainbow stripes. The large white letters LVB and UCI on either side reference the Belgian cycling federation and the Union Cycliste Internationale, making the piece instantly recognizable as an official world championship poster.

At the bottom, the text announces the venues and dates: track events at Rocourt, near Liège, on August 10, 11, 13, and 15, and the road races at Waregem on August 17 and 18.

The 1957 championships produced some classic results. On the road circuit at Waregem, Belgian star Rik Van Steenbergen won the men’s professional road race ahead of Louison Bobet and André Darrigade, taking his third rainbow jersey. Fellow Belgian Louis Proost claimed the amateur road title. On the track at Rocourt, Jan Derksen (Netherlands) won the professional sprint, Roger Rivière (France) the individual pursuit, and Paul Depaepe (Belgium) the motor-paced event, while Michel Rousseau (France) and Carlo Simonigh (Italy) took the amateur sprint and pursuit.

The combination of strong illustration, crisp lettering, and an historically important Belgian victory makes this a standout piece for any collection.

This poster has been archivally and professionally linen-backed.

Virtually all original vintage posters of this era were viewed as temporary advertising and were printed on fragile, thin paper. While expensive, linen backing is a conservation method used to mount, stabilize, preserve, and protect vintage posters, allowing them to be displayed or framed without compromising their value.

This poster is an original first printing, not a reproduction.

Year: 1957
Artist: Demets
Printer: Gand-Morjos – Gent

Size: 58 x 83 cm ( 22 ¾ x 32 ½ inches)

Posters are sold unframed. Framed images are display ideas only.

This is a one-of-a-kind item; please review the photos carefully to determine the condition.

This item is listed on multiple platforms, and availability is subject to prior sale elsewhere.