As a young rider Belgian cyclist Lucien Victor had some podium finishes in his early career before winning the under-23 edition of the Tour of Flanders in 1952. These performances earned Victor a place on the Olympic team for the Helsinki Games, where he finished fourth in the individual road race. Belgium dominated the race, with compatriots André Noyelle and Robert Grondelaers winning gold and silver, respectively, with Victor winning gold in the combined team event. In 1954 he won the Omloop van het Houtland one-day race in West Flanders, before winning a stage of the Tour of Morocco a year later.
Belgium