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Rik Van Steenbergen & Rik Van Looy, 1962 Antwerp Velodrome
Rik Van Steenbergen & Rik Van Looy, 1962 Antwerp Velodrome - Image 2
Rik Van Steenbergen & Rik Van Looy, 1962 Antwerp Velodrome - Image 3
Rik Van Steenbergen & Rik Van Looy, 1962 Antwerp Velodrome - Image 4

Rik Van Steenbergen & Rik Van Looy, 1962 Antwerp Velodrome

$430.00

Visually commanding piece of cycling history, commemorating a memorable night in Belgian track racing.

This striking original poster advertises the decisive match race between two of Belgium’s greatest cycling icons—Rik Van Looy and Rik Van Steenbergen—held on Saturday, January 20, 1962, at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp. Billed as “De Beslissende Match” (“The Decisive Match”), this omnium in five rounds (omnium in 5 reeksen) was a rare and dramatic head-to-head showdown between the two legendary “Riks,” affectionately dubbed Riki I (Van Looy) and Riki II(Van Steenbergen). The event pitted Van Looy, then reigning world champion and “Emperor of Herentals,” against Van Steenbergen, a three-time world champion nearing the twilight of his career but still beloved by fans and feared by rivals.

The poster features bold red and navy blue block lettering, with dramatic photographic portraits of both riders in racing jerseys. Alongside the main event, the program promised international one-hour pursuit races for professionals, as well as a high-profile pursuit challenge for the Armband Savelkoul, featuring Danish star Freddie Eugen. The layout, typography, and national fervor capture the essence of 1960s Belgian velodrome culture, when track cycling still drew massive crowds and was as much a spectacle as a sport.

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 very 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: 1962
Artist: N/A
Drukkerij De Vlijt, Antwerpen

Size: 54.5 x 71 cm (21 ½  x 28 inches) – Linen Backed Archival Mounting

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.

In stock

SKU: PT-200093 D9-L Category: Tags: ,

Description

Rik Van Steenbergen

Rik Van Steenbergen (born September 9, 1924, in Arendonk, Belgium – died May 15, 2003) was one of the most successful and versatile cyclists of the 20th century, known for his dominance on both the road and the track. He won the UCI Road World Championship three times (1949, 1956, and 1957), a feat matched by only a few riders in cycling history. Over his career, Van Steenbergen claimed 270 professional road victories, including major wins at Paris–Roubaix (1948, 1952), Tour of Flanders (1944, 1946), and La Flèche Wallonne (1949, 1958). He also won four stages in the Tour de France and 15 stages in the Giro d’Italia along with winning both the Vuelta &  Giro Points Jerseys.. On the track, he was a prolific six-day rider, winning 40 six-day races and excelling in the madison and points race disciplines. Renowned for his sprinting power and tactical intelligence, Van Steenbergen remains a legend in Belgian cycling.

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Rik Van Looy

Rik Van Looy was known as the King of the Classics or Emperor of Herentals(after the small Belgian city where he lived). He was twice World Road Race Champion and was the first cyclist to win all five ‘Monuments’: the most prestigious one-day classics – a feat since achieved by just two others (both also Belgians: Roger De Vlaeminck and Eddy Merckx). With 379 road victories, he’s second only to Merckx. He is ninth on the all-time list of Grand Tour stage winners with thirty-seven victories.

Additional information

Weight 3 lbs

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