Willy Lauwers, also known as 'Rupske' Lauwers, (16 April 1936 – 12 April 1959) was a
professional
A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...
cyclist
Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...
. He was born in
Hemiksem
Hemiksem (, historical spellings ''Heymissen'' and ''Hemixem'') is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality only comprises the town of Hemiksem proper. In 2021, Hemiksem had a total population of 11,722. The tota ...
,
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
.
Lauwers owned his nickname to the way he moved on his bicycle like a caterpillar ("rups" in Dutch), rocking and wriggling. In addition, thanks to his agility on the bike, he managed to maneuver through the smallest gaps in the peloton. As the son of former cyclist Stan Lauwers, he was born to become a cyclist. In 1957, at the age of 21, he won the
Six Days of Antwerp
The Six Days of Antwerp was a six-day track cycling race held annually in Antwerp, Belgium.
The Six Days has seen 55 editions, was organized from 1934 with interruptions during World War II and the years 1984 to 1986 and last held in 1994.
The ...
together with
Reginald Arnold
Reginald Athelstane Arnold (9 October 1924 – 23 July 2017) was an Australian racing cyclist.
Arnold's cycling career began in 1941, when his brothers gave him a bicycle for his birthday. Despite being blind in one eye, Arnold joined Ashfield ...
and
Ferdinando Terruzzi
Ferdinando Teruzzi (17 February 1924 – 9 April 2014)Tirador velodrome in Palma de Majorca, during a race behind motors. Lauwers, while proceeding at a speed of over 70 km per hour, suddenly lost his balance and fell on the track and was subsequently hit by the motorbike of the rider Gomila who was following him a short distance away. The unfortunate cyclist was rushed to hospital and died shortly afterwards. More than 10,000 people attended his funeral in Hemiksem.
Since 2002, the G''rote Prijs Rupske Lauwers'', a cycle race in Hemiksem is organized to honor him. A memorial plaque was inaugurated there in 2022, in a street named ''Rupske Lauwerslaan''.
Major results
Source:
;1954
: 2nd
Scheldeprijs
The Scheldeprijs is a cycling race in Flanders and the Netherlands which starts in Terneuzen, crosses the Scheldt River, and finishes in Schoten. Until 2018 it was held entirely in Belgium. The event, ranked as a 1.HC race on the UCI Europe Tour, ...
;1956
: 1st Prix du Salon with Arsene Rijckaert
: 2nd
Six Days of Brussels
The Six Days of Brussels was a six-day track cycling race held annually in Brussels, Belgium.
Rik Van Steenbergen
Rik Van Steenbergen (9 September 1924 – 15 May 2003) was a Belgian racing cyclist, considered to be one of the best am ...
with Arsene Rijckaert
: 2nd Hanret criterium
;1957
: 1st
Six Days of Antwerp
The Six Days of Antwerp was a six-day track cycling race held annually in Antwerp, Belgium.
The Six Days has seen 55 editions, was organized from 1934 with interruptions during World War II and the years 1984 to 1986 and last held in 1994.
The ...
with
Reginald Arnold
Reginald Athelstane Arnold (9 October 1924 – 23 July 2017) was an Australian racing cyclist.
Arnold's cycling career began in 1941, when his brothers gave him a bicycle for his birthday. Despite being blind in one eye, Arnold joined Ashfield ...