Rudy Dhaenens

Rudy Dhaenens was a Belgian professional road racing cyclist, born on 10 April 1961, who is most famous for winning the road race at the 1990 UCI Road World Championships in Utsunomiya, Japan, as a member of the Belgian national team. He beat his compatriot Dirk De Wolf and the Italian Gianni Bugno to the rainbow jersey. He was also a regular performer in the Paris-Roubaix classic, finishing second in 1986 and third the following year. For years he served the PDM team, usually as its tactical captain, and he was known for a calm, reserved manner. Heart problems forced him to stop racing in 1992. He died on 6 April 1998, aged 36, from head injuries sustained in a car accident in Aalst while driving to the finish of the Tour of Flanders. The Grand Prix Rudy Dhaenens was held in his honour in Nevele, Belgium, from 1999 to 2007.