The "Lion of Flanders" is the nickname bestowed on Johan Museeuw of Belgium. It is said that if a rider wins even one of the big "Spring Classics" cycling events, there will be decades of handshakes, autographs, baby hugs, and parade waves ahead of them. During his career, Museeuw crossed the line first in three Tour of Flanders, three Paris-Roubaix, an Amstel Gold Race and a World Road Championship.

More than Museeuw, the Lion of Flanders is an insignia seen all over Northern Europe in the biggest races. It flies on yellow flags through rain, wind and smoke rising from grills of sizzling sausage. Below the flags riders bounce across ancient roads while beer spills from the hands of rabid fans. The Lion of Flanders is always present in these most palpable displays of the cycling-mad Northern culture.

DeFeet Aireator socks were firmly fixed in the shoes of Museeuw as he stomped his way across the famous routes. Each race has it’s most pivotal sections. Known by all, these are where the roads are the roughest or most steep. Sometimes both. These are the highest stadiums of professional cycling. The noise is the loudest. Strategy gives way to the chaos of the battle. In these places it’s all or nothing. Instinct. Guts. Everything you’ve got. The Lion of Flanders is roaring like mad and the spoils will go to only one. The one who can escape. Escape.

It was in these stadiums, on the feet of wheeled gladiators, where the DeFeet sock first found acclaim. No other sock is more deserving to be draped in the Lion of Flanders than the original - and most successful ever - Spring Classic sock.