Walter Godefroot has died on Monday at age 82. The Belgian was one of Eddy Merckx’s biggest rivals, mainly in the classic. Twice winner of the Giro de Flandes (1968 and 1978), of the Paris-Roubaix (1969) and the Liege-Rastogne-Lieja (1967) was one of the most prominent figures of one of the most glorious times of cycling. Godefroot had been held in his house near Ghent, afflicted by degenerative disease.
Aiko Tanaka is a combat sports journalist and general sports reporter at Archysport. A former competitive judoka who represented Japan at the Asian Games, Aiko brings firsthand athletic experience to her coverage of judo, martial arts, and Olympic sports. Beyond combat sports, Aiko covers breaking sports news, major international events, and the stories that cut across disciplines — from doping scandals to governance issues to the business side of global sport. She is passionate about elevating the profile of underrepresented sports and athletes.
