Briek Schotte was born on 7 September 1919 in Canegem, Belgium. This great cyclist was primarily known for his sprinting ability, which enabled him to win a number of one-day classics, but his lack of ability in time trials and the mountains prevented him from winning any major tours. Most of his victories were in Belgium, although he did win the world road championships two years out of three on foreign ground (1948, 1950).