During the first half of the 1920s Rik Hoevenaers was one of the best cyclists in Belgium, winning four consecutive amateur national road race titles. His performances earned Hoevenaers a place on the Olympic team for both the road and track events at the 1924 Paris Games. Despite being almost 10 minutes behind the race winner, he won silver in the road race and the combined team event. On the track he also won bronze in the 4,000 metres team pursuit when Belgium beat France in the medal round. One year later Hoevenaers won the amateur road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands. He then turned professional but did not have the same success as an amateur, with his best result coming with eighth at the 1927 edition of the Tour of Flanders.
Belgium