In 1955 he won the Classic "Ardennes double" by winning La Flèche Wallonne and the Liège–Bastogne–Liège in the same year.

At this time, the races were run on successive days as "Le Weekend Ardennais".

Ockers did not have the most congenial riding style - he was known as a crafty cyclist who often took advantage of other people's work - but he more than made up for this through his contact with the public.

He didn't see how Ernest Sterckx had returned to the track after a mechanical failure, looked back and drove full into his opponent.

The Antwerp folk hero fell into a coma, regained consciousness twice more but died of his injuries two days later on 1 October.