Roger Decock (1927–2020) was a Belgian professional road bicycle racer who competed during the mid-twentieth century. Over his career, he established himself as a formidable competitor in European road racing, securing victories in some of the sport's most prestigious events.\n\nDecock's breakout success came in 1951 when he won the Paris–Nice stage race. During the Tour de France that same year, he was enjoying the best performance of his career, holding fifth place overall. However, his competitive ambitions were set aside on the descent of the Col d'Aubisque, where he became the sole witness to a dramatic accident involving the yellow jersey holder, Wim Van Est, who plunged down a cliff. Decock halted his race to summon assistance and waited nearly half an hour to ensure Van Est's rescue was underway. Though this act of sportsmanship cost him his high standing—relegating him to a seventeenth-place finish—it remains a defining moment of his career.\n\nThe pinnacle of Decock's racing career arrived the following year at the 1952 Tour of Flanders. In a highly competitive finish, he outsprinted legendary riders Briek Schotte and Loretto Petrucci to claim the victory, cementing his legacy in Belgian cycling history.
