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Eddy Merckx

December 08, 2023

For the bicycle brand, see Eddy Merckx Cycles. For the billiards player, see Eddy Merckx (billiards player).

Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx (Dutch: [mɛr(ə)ks], French: [mɛʁks]; born 17 June 1945), is a Belgian former professional road and track cyclist racer who is the most successful rider in the history of competitive cycling. His victories include an unequalled eleven Grand Tours (five Tours de France, five Giros d'Italia, and a Vuelta a España), all five Monuments, setting the hour record, three World Championships, every major one-day race other than Paris–Tours, and extensive victories on the track.

Eddy Merckx
Merckx in 1971
Personal information
Full nameÉdouard Louis Joseph Merckx
NicknameDe Kannibaal (The Cannibal)[1]
Born (1945-06-17) 17 June 1945 (age 78)
Meensel-Kiezegem, Belgium
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)[2]
Weight74 kg (163 lb; 11 st 9 lb)[2]
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineRoad and track
RoleRider
Rider typeAll-rounder
Amateur team
1961–1964Evere Kerkhoek Sportif
Professional teams
1965Solo–Superia
1966–1967Peugeot–BP–Michelin
1968–1970Faema
1971–1976Molteni
1977Fiat France
1978C&A
Major wins
Road

Grand Tours

Tour de France
General classification
(1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974)
Points classification (1969, 1971, 1972)
Mountains classification (1969, 1970)
Combination classification (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974)
Combativity award (1969, 1970, 1974, 1975)
34 individual stages
(1969–1972, 1974, 1975)
Giro d'Italia
General classification
(1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974)
Points classification (1968, 1973)
Mountains classification (1968)
24 individual stages
(1967–1970, 1972, 1973, 1974)
Vuelta a España
General classification (1973)
Points classification (1973)
Combination classification (1973)
6 individual stages (1973)

Stage races

Escalada a Montjuïc (1966, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1975)
À travers Lausanne (1968, 1970, 1972, 1973)
Giro di Sardegna (1968, 1971, 1973, 1975)
Tour de Romandie (1968)
Volta a Catalunya (1968)
Paris–Luxembourg (1969)
Paris–Nice (1969, 1970, 1971)
Vuelta a Levante (1969)
Tour of Belgium (1970, 1971)
Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré (1971)
Tour de Suisse (1974)
Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme (1975, 1976)

One-day races and Classics

World Road Race Championships (1967, 1971, 1974)
National Road Race Championships
(1970)
Milan–San Remo (1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976)
Paris–Roubaix (1968, 1970, 1973)
Tour of Flanders (1969, 1975)
Liège–Bastogne–Liège (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975)
Giro di Lombardia (1971, 1972)
La Flèche Wallonne (1967, 1970, 1972)
Gent–Wevelgem (1967, 1970, 1973)
Omloop Het Volk (1971, 1973)
Grand Prix du Midi Libre (1971)
Rund um den Henninger-Turm (1971)
Giro del Piemonte (1972)
Amstel Gold Race (1973, 1975)
Paris–Brussels (1973)
Giro dell'Emilia (1973)
Grand Prix de Fourmies (1973)
Trofeo Laigueglia (1973, 1974)
Other
Super Prestige Pernod International (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975)
GP Baden–Baden (1971)
Hour Record (1972)
Grand Prix des Nations (1973)
Track
European Championships
Madison (1970, 1977)
Omnium (1975)
National Championships
Madison (1966, 1967, 1968, 1974, 1975, 1976)
Medal record

Born in Meensel-Kiezegem, Brabant, Belgium, he grew up in Sint-Pieters-Woluwe where his parents ran a grocery store. He played several sports, but found his true passion in cycling. Merckx got his first bicycle at the age of three or four and competed in his first race in 1961. His first victory came at Petit-Enghien in October 1961.

After winning eighty races as an amateur racer, he turned professional on 29 April 1965 when he signed with Solo–Superia. His first major victory came in the Milan–San Remo a year later, after switching to Peugeot–BP–Michelin. After the 1967 season, Merckx moved to Faema, and won the Giro d'Italia, his first Grand Tour victory. Four times between 1970 and 1974 Merckx completed a Grand Tour double. His final double also coincided with winning the elite men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships to make him the first rider to accomplish cycling's Triple Crown. Merckx broke the hour record in October 1972, extending the record by almost 800 metres.

He acquired the nickname "The Cannibal", suggested by the daughter of a teammate upon being told by her father of how Merckx would not let anyone else win. Merckx achieved 525 victories over his eighteen-year career. He is one of only three riders to have won all five 'Monuments' Milan–San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Giro di Lombardia and the only one to have won them all twice or more. Merckx was successful on the road and also on the track, as well as in the large stage races and one-day races. He is almost universally regarded as the greatest and most successful rider in the history of cycling.

Since Merckx's retirement from the sport on 18 May 1978, he has remained active in the cycling world. He began his own bicycle brand, Eddy Merckx Cycles, in 1980 and its bicycles were used by several professional teams in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. Merckx coached the Belgian national cycling team for eleven years, stopping in 1996. He helped start and organize the Tour of Qatar from its start in 2002 until its final edition in 2016. He also assisted in running the Tour of Oman, before a disagreement with the organizers led him to step away in 2017.

Early life and amateur career edit

Edouard Louis Joseph Merckx was born in Meensel-Kiezegem,[3] Brabant, Belgium on 17 June 1945 to Jules Merckx and Jenny Pittomvils.[4][5] Merckx was the first-born of the family.[4][5] In September 1946, the family moved to Sint-Pieters-Woluwe, in Brussels, Belgium in order to take over a grocery store that had been up for lease.[6][7] In May 1948, Jenny gave birth to twins: a boy, Michel, and a girl, Micheline.[8] As a child Eddy was hyperactive and was always playing outside.[9]

Eddy was a competitive child and played several sports, including basketball, football, table tennis and boxing, the latter in which he won some local boxing tournaments.[10][11] He even played lawn tennis for the local junior team.[11] However, Merckx claimed he knew he wanted to be a cyclist at the age of four and that his first memory was a crash on his bike when he was the same age.[12] Merckx began riding a bike at the age of three or four and would ride to school every day, beginning at age eight.[13] Merckx would imitate his cycling idol Stan Ockers with his friends when they rode bikes together.[14]

In summer 1961, Merckx bought his first racing license and competed in his first official race a month after he turned sixteen, coming in sixth place.[15] He rode in twelve more races before winning his first, at Petit-Enghien, on 1 October 1961.[16][17][3] In the winter following his first victory, he trained with former racer Félicien Vervaecke at the local velodrome.[18] Merckx won his second victory on 11 March 1962 in a kermis race.[18] Merckx competed in 55 races during the 1962 calendar year; as he devoted more time to cycling, his grades at school began to decline.[19] After winning the Belgian amateur road race title, Merckx declined an offer from his school's headmaster to have his exams postponed, and dropped out of school.[20][21] He finished the season with 23 victories to his name.[21]

Merckx was selected for the men's road race at the 1964 Summer Olympics, where he finished in twelfth position.[22][2] Later in the season, he won the amateur road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Sallanches, France.[23][24] Merckx remained an amateur until April 1965, and finished his amateur career with eighty wins to his credit.[25][26]

Professional career edit

1965–1967: Solo–Superia and Peugeot–BP–Michelin edit

1965: First professional season edit

Merckx turned professional on 29 April 1965 when he signed with Rik Van Looy's Belgian team, Solo–Superia.[27] He won his first race in Vilvoorde, beating Emile Daems.[28][29] On 1 August,[28] Merckx finished second in the Belgian national championships, which qualified him for the men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships.[30] Raphaël Géminiani, the manager of the Bic cycling team, approached Merckx at the event and offered him 2,500 francs a month to join the team the following season.[31] Merckx chose to sign; however, since he was a minor the contract was invalid.[31]

After finishing the road race in 29th position,[32] Merckx returned to Belgium and discussed his plans for the next season with his manager Jean Van Buggenhout.[31] Van Buggenhout helped orchestrate a move that sent Merckx to the French-based Peugeot–BP–Michelin for 20,000 francs a month.[31] Merckx elected to leave Solo–Superia due to the way he was treated by his teammates, in particular Van Looy.[30] Van Looy and other teammates mocked Merckx for his various habits such as his eating, or called him names.[33] In addition, Merckx later stated that during his time with Van Looy's team he had not been taught anything.[29][30] While with Solo–Superia, he won nine races out of the nearly 70 races he entered.[31][34]

1966: First Monument victory edit

 
Merckx finished in twelfth position in the men's road race at the 1966 UCI Road World Championships.

In March 1966, Merckx entered his first major stage race as a professional rider, the Paris–Nice.[35] He took the race lead for a single stage before losing it to Jacques Anquetil and eventually coming in fourth overall.[35] Milan–San Remo, his first participation in one of cycling's Monuments, was the next event on the calendar for Merckx. There, he succeeded in staying with the main field as the race entered the final climb of the Poggio.[36] He attacked on the climb and reduced the field to a group of eleven, himself included.[37] Merckx was advised by his manager to hold off on sprinting full-out to the finish line until as late as possible.[36] Three other riders reached the line with him; Merckx, however, beat them in the sprint.[36] In the following weeks, he raced the Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix, the most important cobbled classics; in the former he crashed and in the latter he had a punctured tire.[38] At the 1966 UCI Road World Championships he finished twelfth in the road race after suffering a cramp in the closing kilometers.[38] He finished 1966 season with a total of 20 wins, including his first stage race win at the Tour of Morbihan.[38]

1967: Second straight Milan–San Remo and world champion edit

Merckx opened the 1967 campaign with two stage victories at the Giro di Sardegna.[39] He followed these successes by entering Paris–Nice where he won the second stage and took the race lead.[39] Two stages later, a teammate, Tom Simpson, attacked with several other riders on a climb and was nearly 20 minutes ahead of Merckx, who remained in a group behind.[39] Merckx attacked two days later on a climb 70 km into the stage.[40] He was able to establish a firm advantage, but obeyed orders from his manager to wait for the chasing Simpson.[40] Merckx won the stage, while Simpson secured his overall victory.[40]

 
At the 1967 Giro d'Italia Merckx won his first Grand Tour stages on the way to finishing ninth overall.

On 18 March,[41] Merckx started the Milan–San Remo and was seen as a 120–1 favorite to win the race.[40] He attacked on the Capo Berta and again on the Poggio, leaving only Gianni Motta with him.[42] The two slowed their pace and were joined by two more riders.[42] Merckx won the four-man sprint to the finish.[42] His next victory came in La Flèche Wallonne after he missed out on an early break, caught up to it, and attacked from it to win the race.[43] On 20 May, he started the Giro d'Italia, his first Grand Tour.[44] He won the twelfth and fourteenth stages en route to finishing ninth in the general classification.[45]

He signed with Faema on 2 September for ten years worth 400,000 Belgian francs.[46] He chose to switch over in order to be in complete control over the team he was racing for.[46] In addition, he would not have to pay for various expenses that came with racing such as wheels and tires.[47] The next day, Merckx started the men's road race at the 1967 UCI Road World Championships in Heerlen, Netherlands.[48] The course consisted of ten laps of a circuit.[47] Motta attacked on the first lap and was joined by Merckx and five other riders.[48] The group thinned to five as they reached the finish line where Merckx was able to out-sprint Jan Janssen for first place.[48][49] In doing so, he became the third rider to win the world road race amateur and professional titles.[48] By winning the race he earned the right to wear the rainbow jersey as world champion.[48][49]

1968–1970: Faema edit

1968: First Grand Tour victory edit

Merckx's first victory with his new team came in a stage win at the Giro di Sardegna.[50] At Paris–Nice, he was forced to quit the race due to a knee injury he sustained during the event.[51] He failed to win his third consecutive Milan–San Remo and missed out at the Tour of Flanders the following weekend.[51] His next victory came at Paris–Roubaix when he bested Herman Van Springel in a race that was plagued by poor weather and several punctures to the competing riders.[51]

 
During the twelfth stage of the 1968 Giro d'Italia, Merckx caught the leading group, passed them, and rode solo to the stage finish atop the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (pictured) in poor weather to win the stage and take the race lead.

At the behest of his team, Merckx raced the Giro d'Italia instead of the Tour de France.[51] He won the race's second stage after he attacked with one kilometer to go.[52][53] The twelfth stage was marred by rainy weather and featured the climbs of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo for the stage finish.[53] By the time Merckx had reached the penultimate climb, there was a six-man group at the front of the race with a nine-minute advantage.[54] Merckx attacked and was able to get a sizable distance between himself and the group he left before he stopped to change his wheel in order to slow down due to orders from his team manager.[53][55] Merckx got back on his bike and caught the leading breakaway and rode past it to the finish, where he won the stage and took the race lead.[53][56] Merckx went on to win the race, along with the points classification and mountains classification.[53] In the Volta a Catalunya, Merckx took the race lead from Gimondi in the race's time trial stage and won the event as a whole.[57] He finished the season with 32 wins in the 129 races he entered.[58]

1969: A victory in Paris and injury in Blois edit

Merckx opened the 1969 season with victories at the Vuelta a Levante and the Paris–Nice overall, as well as stages in each of the races.[59] On 30 March 1969 Merckx earned his first major victory of the 1969 calendar with his win at the Tour of Flanders.[60] On a rainy day that featured strong winds,[60] he attacked first on the Oude Kwaremont, but a puncture nullified any gains he was able to establish.[61] He made a move on the Kapelmuur and was followed by a few riders.[61] As the wind shifted from a crosswind to a headwind with close to seventy kilometers left to go, Merckx increased the pace and rode solo to victory.[61] The seventeen days after the Tour of Flanders saw Merckx win nine times.[59] He won Milan–San Remo by descending the Poggio at high speed.[59] Merckx saw victory again in mid-April at the Liège–Bastogne–Liège when he attacked with 70 kilometers remaining.[62]

He began the Giro d'Italia on 16 May, stating that he wished to ride less aggressively than the year before in order to save energy for the Tour de France.[63] Merckx had won four of the race's stages and held the race lead going into the sixteenth day of racing.[64] However, before the start of the stage race director Vincenzo Torriani, along with a television camera and two writers, entered Merckx's hotel room and informed him that he had failed a doping control and was disqualified from the race, in addition to being suspended for a month.[65] On 14 June, the cycling governing body, the FICP, overturned the month long suspension and cleared him due to the "benefit of the doubt."[66]

 
The Velodrome Eddy Merckx at Mourenx was named in honor of Merckx in 1999 due to his efforts during the seventeenth stage at the 1969 Tour de France.

Before starting the Tour, Merckx had spent a large amount of his time resting and training, racing only five times.[67] Merckx won the race's sixth stage through attacking before the leg's final major climb, the Ballon d'Alsace, and then outlasting his competitors who were able to follow him initially.[68] During the seventeenth stage, Merckx was riding at the head of the race with several general classification contenders on the Col du Tourmalet.[69] Merckx shifted into a large gear, attacked, and went on to cross the summit with a 45-second advantage.[70] Despite orders to wait for the chasing riders, Merckx increased his efforts.[71] He rode over the Col du Soulor and Col d'Aubisque, increasing the gap to eight minutes.[71] With close to fifty kilometers to go, Merckx began to suffer hypoglycemia and rode the rest of the stage in severe pain.[72] At the end of the stage, Merckx told the journalists "I hope I have done enough now for you to consider me a worthy winner."[72] Merckx finished the race with six stage victories to his credit, along with the general, points, mountains, and combination classifications, and the award for most aggressive rider.[73]

His next major race was the two-day race, Paris–Luxembourg.[74] Merckx was down fifty-four seconds going into the second day and attacked eight kilometers from the finish, on the slopes of the Bereldange.[74] Merckx rode solo to catch the leading rider Jacques Anquetil, whom he dropped with a kilometer remaining.[75] Merckx won the stage and gained enough time on the race leader Gimondi to win the race.[76]

 
Fernand Wambst, who was regarded as a great derny driver, agreed to pace Merckx in the omnium events in Blois.[77]

On 9 September, Merckx participated in a three-round omnium event at the concrete velodrome in Blois where each rider was to be paced by a derny.[78][77] Fernand Wambst was Merckx's pacer for the contest.[77] After winning the first intermediate sprint of the first round, Wambst chose to slow their pace and move to the back of the race despite Merckx wanting to stay out in front for fear of an accident.[79] Wambst wanted to pass everyone to provide a show for the crowd.[79] The duo then increased their pace and began to pass each of the other contestants;[79] however, as they passed the riders in first position, the leading derny lost control and crashed into the wall.[79] Wambst chose to avoid the derny by going below it, but the leader's derny came back down and collided with Wambst, while Merckx's pedal caught one of the dernies.[80] The two riders landed head first onto the track.[80]

Wambst died of a fractured skull as he was being transported to a hospital.[80] Merckx remained unconscious for 45 minutes and awoke in the operating room.[80] He sustained a concussion, whiplash, trapped nerves in his back, a displaced pelvis, and several other cuts and bruises.[81] He remained at the hospital for a week before returning to Belgium.[81] He spent six weeks in bed before beginning to race again in October.[81] Merckx later stated that he "was never the same again" after the crash.[81][82] He would constantly adjust his seat during races to help ease the pain.[83] Merckx stopped racing on 26 October to recuperate.[84]

1970: A Giro–Tour double edit

Merckx entered the 1970 campaign nursing a case of mild tendonitis in his knee.[85] His first major victory came in Paris–Nice where he won the general classification, along with three stages.[85][82] On 1 April, Merckx won the Gent–Wevelgem, followed by the Tour of Belgium – where he braved a snowy stage and followed the day up with a victory in the final time trial to secure the title – and Paris–Roubaix.[86][82] In Paris–Roubaix, Merckx was battling a cold as the race began in heavy rain.[85] He attacked thirty-one kilometers from the finish and went on to win by five minutes and twenty-one seconds, the largest margin of victory in the history of the race.[85] The next weekend, Merckx attempted to race for teammate Joseph Bruyère in La Flèche Wallonne; however, Bruyère was unable to keep pace with the leading riders, leaving Merckx to take the victory.[87]

 
After winning the fourteenth stage to the summit of Mont Ventoux during the 1970 Tour de France, Merckx had to be given oxygen.

After the scandal at the previous year's Giro d'Italia, Merckx was unwilling to return to the race in 1970.[87] His entry to the race was contingent upon all doping controls being sent to a lab in Rome to be tested, rather than being tested at the finish like the year before.[87] He started the race and won the second stage,[82] but four days later showed signs of weakness with his knee as he was dropped twice while in the mountains.[87] However the next day, Merckx attacked on the final climb into the city of Brentonico to win the stage and take the lead.[82] He won the stage nine individual time trial by almost two minutes over the second-place finisher, expanding his lead significantly.[82] Merckx did not win another stage, but expanded his lead a little more before the race's conclusion.[82]

Before beginning the Tour, Merckx won the men's road race at the Belgian National Road Race Championships.[88] Merckx won the Tour's opening prologue to take the race's first race leader's yellow jersey.[88][89] After losing the lead following the second stage,[88][89] he won the sixth stage after forming a breakaway with Lucien Van Impe and regained the lead.[90] After expanding his lead in the stage nine individual time trial, Merckx won the race's first true mountain stage, stage 10, and expanded his lead to five minutes in the general classification.[88][90] Merckx won three of the five stages contested within the next four days, including a summit finish to Mont Ventoux, where upon finishing he was given oxygen.[91][92] Merckx won two more stages, both individual time trials, and won the Tour by over twelve minutes. He finished the Tour with eight stage victories and won the mountains and combination classifications.[88][92] The eight stage wins equaled the previous record for stage wins in a single Tour de France.[88][93] Merckx also became the third to accomplish the feat of winning the Giro and Tour in the same calendar year.[88][89]

1971–1976: Molteni edit

1971: A third consecutive Tour and second world championship edit

 
Spaniard Luis Ocaña (pictured at the 1973 Tour de France) was one of Merckx's major rivals during the 1971 Tour de France.

Faema folded at the end of the 1970 season causing Merckx and several of his teammates to move to another Italian team, Molteni.[94][95] The first major victory for Merckx came in the Giro di Sardegna, which he secured after attacking on his own and riding solo through the rain to win the race's final stage.[94] He followed that with his third consecutive Paris–Nice victory, a race he led from start to finish.[94] In the Milan–San Remo, Merckx worked with his teammates in a seven-man breakaway to set up a final attack on the Poggio.[94] Merckx's attack succeeded and he won his fourth edition of the race.[94] Six days later, he won the Omloop Het Volk.[94]

After winning the Tour of Belgium again, Merckx headed into the major spring classics.[96] During the Tour of Flanders, Merckx's rivals worked against him to prevent him from winning.[96] A week later, he suffered five flat tires during the Paris–Roubaix.[96] The Liège–Bastogne–Liège was held in cold and rain conditions.[96] After attacking ninety kilometers from the finish, Merckx caught the leaders on the road and passed them.[96] He rode solo until around three kilometers to go when Georges Pintens caught him.[96] Merckx and Pintens rode to the finish together, where Merckx won the two-man sprint.[97] Instead of racing the Giro d'Italia, Merckx elected to enter two shorter stages races in France, the Grand Prix du Midi Libre and the Critérium du Dauphiné, both of which he won.[97]

The Tour de France began with a team time trial that Merckx's team won, giving him the lead.[98] The next day's racing was split into three parts.[98] Merckx lost the lead after stage 1b, but regained it after stage 1c due to a time bonus that he earned from winning an intermediate sprint.[98] During the second stage, a major break with the major race contenders, including Merckx, formed with over a hundred kilometers to go.[99] The group finished nine minutes ahead of the peloton as Merckx came around Roger De Vlaeminck during the sprint to win the day.[99] After a week of racing, Merckx held a lead of around a minute over the main contenders.[99] The eighth stage saw a mountain top finish to Puy-de-Dôme.[99] Bernard Thévenet attacked on the lower slopes and Merckx was unable to counter.[99] Joop Zoetemelk and Luis Ocaña went with Thévenet and wound up gaining fifteen seconds on Merckx.[99]

 
While descending the Col du Cucheron during the ninth stage of the 1971 Tour de France, Merckx suffered a puncture. Seeing this, his rivals attacked and wound up gaining 1' 30" on Merckx.

On the descent of the Col du Cucheron during the race's ninth leg, Merckx's tire punctured, prompting Ocaña to attack with Zoetemelk, Thévenet, and Gösta Pettersson.[100] The group of four finished a minute and a half ahead of Merckx, giving Zoetemelk the lead.[101] The following day Merckx lost eight minutes to Ocaña after a poor showing due to stomach pains and indigestion.[102] At the start of the eleventh stage, Merckx, three teammates, and a couple of others formed a breakaway.[103] Merckx's group finished two minutes in front of the peloton that was led by Ocaña's Bic team.[104] After winning the ensuing time trial, Merckx took back eleven more seconds on Ocaña.[105] The race entered the Pyrenees with the first stage, into Luchon, being plagued by heavy thunderstorms that severely handicapped vision.[106] On the descent of the Col de Menté, Merckx crashed on a left bend.[107] Ocaña, who was trailing, crashed into the same bend and Zoetemelk collided with him.[107] Merckx fell again on the descent and took the race lead as Ocaña was forced to retire from the race due to injuries from the crash.[108] Merckx declined to wear the yellow jersey the following day out of respect for Ocaña.[108] He won two more stages and the general, points, and combination classifications when the race finished in Paris.[108][109]

Seven weeks following the Tour, Merckx entered the men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships that were held in Mendrisio, Switzerland.[110] The route for the day was rather hilly and consisted of several circuits.[110] Merckx was a part of a five-man breakaway as the race reached five laps to go.[110] After attacking on the second to last stage, Merckx and Gimondi reached the finish, where Merckx won the race by four bike lengths.[110] This earned him his second rainbow jersey.[110] He closed out the 1971 calendar with his first victory in the Giro di Lombardia.[110] This victory meant that Merckx had won all of cycling's Monuments.[2] Merckx made the winning move when he attacked on the descent of the Intelvi Pass.[110] During the off-season, Merckx had his displaced pelvis tended to by a doctor.[111]

1972: Breaking the hour record alongside a Giro–Tour double edit

 
Raymond Poulidor (pictured at the 1966 Tour de France) won Paris–Nice after taking the lead away from Merckx in the race's final stage, an individual time trial.[112]

Due to his non-participation in track racing over the winter, Merckx entered the 1972 campaign in poorer form than in previous years.[111] In the Paris–Nice, Merckx broke a vertebra in a crash that occurred as the peloton was in the midst of a bunch sprint.[111] Against the advice of a physician, he started the next day being barely able to ride out of the saddle, leading Ocaña to attack him several times throughout the stage.[111] In the race's fifth leg, Merckx sprinted away from Ocaña with 150 meters to go to win the day.[112] Merckx lost the race lead in the final stage to Raymond Poulidor and finished in second place overall.[112] Two days removed from Paris–Nice, Merckx was victorious for the fifth time at the Milan–San Remo after he established a gap on the descent of the Poggio.[112]

In Paris–Roubaix, he crashed again, further aggravating the injury he sustained from Paris–Nice.[113] He won Liège–Bastogne–Liège by making a solo move forty-six kilometers from the finish.[113] Three days later, in La Flèche Wallonne, Merckx was a part of a six-man leading group as the race neared its conclusion.[113] Merckx won the uphill sprint to the finish despite his derailleur shifting him to the wrong gear, forcing him to ride in a larger gear than anticipated.[114] He became the third rider to win La Flèche Wallonne and Liège–Bastogne–Liège in the same weekend.[113] Despite a monetary offer from race organizers for Merckx to participate in the Vuelta a España, he chose to take part in the Giro d'Italia.[112]

Merckx lost over two and a half minutes to Spanish climber José Manuel Fuente after the Giro's fourth stage that contained a summit finish to Blockhaus.[115] In the seventh stage, Fuente had attacked on the first climb of the day, the Valico di Monte Scuro.[115] However, Fuente cracked near the top of the climb, allowing for Merckx and Pettersson to catch and pass him. Merckx gained over four minutes on Fuente and became the new race leader.[115] He expanded his lead by two minutes through the stage 12a and 12b time trials, winning the former.[116] Fuente got Merckx on his own as the two climbed together during the fourteenth stage.[116] He and teammate Francisco Galdós attacked, leaving Merckx behind.[116] Merckx eventually reconnected with the two on the final climb of the stage.[116] He proceeded to attack and went on to win the stage by forty-seven seconds.[116] He lost two minutes to Fuente due to stomach trouble during the seventeenth leg that finished atop the Stelvio Pass,[116] but went on to win one more stage en route to his third victory at the Giro d'Italia.[117]

Merckx entered the Tour de France in July where a battle between him and Ocaña was expected by many.[117] He took the opening prologue and expanded his advantage over all the other general classification contenders, except Ocaña, by at least three minutes.[118] Going into the Pyrenees, Merckx led Ocaña by fifty-one seconds.[119] The general classification favorites were riding together as the race hit the Col d'Aubisque in the seventh leg.[119] Ocaña punctured on the climb, allowing for the other riders to attack.[119] Ocaña chased after the group but crashed into a wall on the descent and went on to lose almost two minutes to Merckx.[119] Merckx was criticized for attacking while Ocaña had a flat, but Merckx responded that the year before Ocaña had done the same thing while the race was in the Alps.[119] Merckx won the following stage, regaining the lead which he had lost after the fourth leg.[119] During the next two major mountain stages, one to Mont Ventoux and the other to Orcières, he merely followed Ocaña's wheel.[120] He won three more stages before crossing the finish line in Paris as the race's winner,[121] thus completing his second Giro-Tour double in the process.[122]

 
Ernesto Colnago designed the bike Merckx used (pictured) during his hour record attempt to be similar to Merckx's track bike.[123] The bike weighed 5.9 kilograms and saw two hundred hours put into its production.[124][125]

After initially planning to attempt to break the hour record in August, Merckx decided to make the attempt in October after taking a ten-day hiatus from criterium racing to heal and prepare.[123] The attempt took place on 25 October in Mexico City, Mexico at the outdoor track Agustin Melgar.[126] Mexico was chosen due to the higher altitude as this led to less air resistance.[126] He arrived in Mexico on the 21st to prepare for his attempt, but two days were lost due to rain.[124] His attempt started at 8:46 am local time and saw him finish the first ten kilometers twenty-eight seconds faster than the record pace.[127] However, Merckx started off too fast and began to fade as the attempt wore on.[128] He eventually was able to recover and posted a distance of 49.431 km (31 mi), breaking the world record.[129][23][130] After finishing he was carried off and was quoted saying the pain was "very, very, very significant."[129]

1973: A Giro–Vuelta double edit

An illness prevented Merckx from taking part in the Milan–San Remo at the start of the 1973 calendar.[131] During a span of nineteen days, Merckx won four classics including Omloop Het Volk, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and Paris–Roubaix.[131] He decided to race the Vuelta a España and the Giro d'Italia, instead of racing the Tour de France.[131] He won the opening prologue of the Vuelta to take an early lead.[131] Despite Ocaña's best efforts, Merckx won a total of six stages on his way to his only Vuelta a España title.[131] In addition to the general classification, Merckx won the race's points classification and combination classifications.[131]

Four days after the conclusion of the Vuelta, Merckx lined up to start the Giro d'Italia.[132] He won the opening two-man time trial with Roger Swerts and the next day's leg as well.[133] Merckx's primary competitor, Fuente, lost a significant amount of time during the second stage.[132] He won the eighth stage which featured a summit finish to Monte Carpegna despite Fuente attacking several times on the ascent.[133] Fuente tried attacking throughout the rest of the race, but was only able to make time gains on the race's penultimate stage.[133] Merckx won the race after leading from start to finish, a feat only previously accomplished by Alfredo Binda and Costante Girardengo.[133] He also became the first rider to win the Giro and Vuelta in the same calendar year.[133]

 
Felice Gimondi (pictured in 1966) won the men's road race at the 1973 UCI Road World Championships, ahead of Merckx who was unable to contest the final sprint to the line, finishing last out of the leading group of four.

The UCI Road World Championships were held in Barcelona, Spain in 1973 and contested on the Montjuich circuit.[134] During the road race, Merckx attacked with around one hundred kilometers left.[134] His move was marked by Freddy Maertens, Gimondi, and Ocaña.[135] Merckx attacked on the final lap, but was reeled in by the three riders.[136] It came down to a sprint between the four, of which Merckx came in last and Gimondi in first.[136] Following the road race, Merckx won his first Paris–Brussels and Grand Prix des Nations.[137] He won both legs of À travers Lausanne, as well as the Giro di Lombardia, but a doping positive disqualified him.[137] He closed the season with over fifty victories to his credit.[137]

1974: Completion of cycling's Triple Crown edit

The 1974 season saw Merckx fail to win a spring classic for the first time in his career, in part due to him suffering from various illnesses during the early months.[138] Pneumonia forced him to quit racing for a month and forced him to enter the Giro d'Italia in poor form.[139] He lost time early in the race to Fuente, who took the race's first mountainous stage.[139] Merckx gained time on Fuente in the race's only time trial.[139] Merckx attacked from two hundred kilometers out two days later in a stage that was plagued by horrendous weather.[139] Fuente lost ten minutes to Merckx, who became the race leader.[139] The twentieth stage had a summit finish to Tre Cime di Lavaredo.[140] Fuente and Gianbattista Baronchelli attacked on the climb, while Merckx was unable to match their accelerations.[140] He finished the stage only to see his lead shrink to twelve seconds over Baronchelli.[140] He held on to that lead until the race's conclusion, winning his fifth Giro d'Italia.[140]

Three days following his victory at the Giro, Merckx started the Tour de Suisse.[141] He won the race's prologue and rode conservatively for the rest of the race.[141] He took the final leg, an individual time trial, to seal his overall victory.[141] After finishing the race, Merckx had a sebaceous cyst removed on 22 June.[141] Five days following the surgery, he was scheduled to begin the Tour de France.[141] The wound was still slightly open when he began the Grand Tour and it bled throughout the race.[141]

At the Tour, Merckx won the race's prologue, giving him the first race leader's maillot jaune (English: yellow jersey),[141] which he lost the next day to teammate Joseph Bruyère.[142] He won the seventh stage of the race, and regained the lead, through attacking in the closing kilometers and holding off the chasing peloton.[142] He put five minutes into Poulidor, his main rival, after dropping him on the Col du Galibier.[143] The next day, on the slopes of Mont Ventoux, Merckx rode to limit his losses after suffering several attacks from other general classification riders, including Poulidor, Vicente López Carril and Gonzalo Aja.[143] He expanded his lead through several stage victories afterward, including one where he attacked with ten kilometers to go in a flat stage and held off the peloton to reach the finish in Orléans almost a minute and a half before the chasing group.[144] Merckx finished the Tour with eight stage wins and his fifth Tour de France victory, equaling the record of Anquetil.[144]

 
With his victory in the men's road race at the 1974 UCI Road World Championships and his victories in two Grand Tours, the Giro and Tour, Merckx became the first rider to win the Triple Crown of Cycling.

Going into the men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships, Merckx anchored a squad that included Van Springel, Maertens, and De Vlaeminck.[145] The route featured twenty-one laps of a circuit that contained two climbs.[145] Merckx and Poulidor attacked with around seven kilometers to go, after catching the leading breakaway.[145] The two rode to the finish together where Merckx won the sprint to the line, establishing a two-second gap between himself and Poulidor.[146] By winning the road race, Merckx became the first rider to win the Triple Crown of Cycling, which consists of winning the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and men's road race at the World Championships in one calendar year.[147][148] It was also his third world title, becoming the third rider to ever be world champion three times, after Binda and Rik Van Steenbergen.[149]

1975: Second place at the Tour edit

With victories at Milan–San Remo and Amstel Gold Race, Merckx opened the 1975 season in good form, also winning the Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme.[149] In the Catalan Week, Merckx lost his super domestique Bruyère, who had helped Merckx to victory in years past many times, to a broken leg.[149] Two days following the Catalan Week, Merckx participated in the Tour of Flanders.[149] He launched an attacked with eighty kilometers to go, with only Frans Verbeeck being able to match his acceleration.[150] Verbeeck was dropped as the race reached five kilometers remaining, allowing Merckx to take his third Tour of Flanders victory.[150] In Paris–Roubaix, Merckx suffered a flat tire with around eighty kilometers left when a part of a leading group of four.[150] After chasing for three kilometers, he caught the three other riders and the group rode into the finish together; De Vlaeminck won the day.[150] Merckx won his fifth Liège–Bastogne–Liège by attacking several times in the closing portions of the race.[150]

Merckx's attitude while racing had changed: riders expected him to chase down attacks, which angered him.[151] Notably, in the Tour de Romandie he was riding with race leader Zoetemelk as an attack occurred.[152] Merckx refused to chase the break down, and the two lost fourteen minutes.[152] Merckx contracted a cold and, later, tonsilitis while racing in the spring campaign.[153] This caused him to be in poor form, forcing him to not participate in the Giro d'Italia.[153] He then rode in the Dauphiné Libéré and was not on par with Thevenet, who won the race.[153] At the Tour de Suisse, De Vlaeminck won the race as a whole, while Merckx finished second.[153]

 
Merckx crossing the finish line to win the 1975 Amstel Gold Race

He placed second in the Tour de France's prologue.[154] The following morning's split stage saw Merckx put time on Thevenet by attacking with Francesco Moser, Van Impe, and Zoetemelk.[154] In day's second leg, Merckx gained time on Zoetemelk.[154] He won the stage six individual time trial and gaining more time on Thevenet and Zoetemelk.[154] He won the next time trial into Auch as well.[155] During the race's eleventh stage, Merckx sent his team to set the pace early on in the stage.[155] Reaching the final climb of the day, Merckx was on his own as his team had been used to set the pace throughout the day.[155] On the day's final climb to Pla d'Adet, he matched an acceleration by Zoetemelk.[155] Thevenet then launched an attack, to which Merckx could not follow and saw him lose over two minutes.[155] After the stage Merckx switched decided to mark Thevenet for the rest of the race and make an attack on the Puy-de-Dôme.[155]

While climbing the Puy-de-Dôme, Thevenet and Van Impe attacked.[155] Merckx followed at his own pace and kept the two riders within a hundred meters.[156] With about 150 m remaining, Merckx was prepared to sprint to the line, but was punched in the back by a spectator, Nello Breton.[156] He crossed the line thirty-four seconds behind Thevenet and proceeded to vomit after catching his breath.[156] The punch left him with a large bruise.[156] During the rest day he was found to have an inflamed liver for which he was prescribed blood thinners.[156]

The stage following the rest day featured five climbs, Merckx felt a pain on the third climb in the area of the punch and had a teammate get him an analgesic.[157] Thevenet attacked several times on the climb of the Col des Champs, all of which Merckx countered.[158] Merckx retaliated by speeding away on the descent.[158] On the start of the next climb, Merckx had his Molteni teammates set the pace and he distanced himself from his competitors before the start of the final climb.[158] However, as Merckx began the final climb he cracked. Thevenet caught and passed him with four kilometers left.[159] Gimondi, Van Impe, and Zoetemelk passed Merckx, who finished fifth and one minute and twenty-six seconds down.[160] The following day, Merckx caught up with the leading breakaway and wanted to push ahead, but the riders chose not to participate in the pace making, leading Merckx to sit up and get caught.[161] He lost two more minutes to Thevenet, who attacked on the Col d'Izoard.[161] He crashed in the next leg, breaking a cheekbone, and gained some time on Thevenet before the finish in Paris.[162] He finished in second place, the first time he had lost a Tour in his six starts.[163]

1976: A record seventh Milan–San Remo edit

He opened his 1976 season with his record seventh victory in Milan–San Remo.[164] He followed with a victory in the Catalan Week, but suffered a crash in the final stage when a spectator's bag caught his handlebars, injuring his elbow.[164] This injury plagued his performance throughout the spring classic season.[164] He entered the Giro d'Italia but failed to win a stage for the first time in his career.[164] He finished the race in eighth overall while battling a saddle boil throughout the race.[164] Following the Giro's conclusion Merckx announced that he and his team Molteni would not take part in the Tour de France.[165] He took part in the men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships and finished in fifth position.[165] He ended his season in October after racing for most of August.[165] He failed to win the Super Prestige Pernod International, a competition where riders were awarded points for their placements in certain professional races, for the first time since 1968.[165] In the first two months of his off-season, Merckx spent the majority of his time lying down.[165] Molteni ended their sponsorship at the end of the season.[165]

1977–1978: Fiat France and C&A edit

 
Raphaël Géminiani (pictured during the 1954 Tour de France) became Merckx's new team manager with Fiat France for the 1977 season.

Fiat France became the new sponsor for Merckx's team and Raphaël Géminiani the new manager.[166] He got his season's first victories in the Grand Prix d'Aix and Tour Méditerranéen.[167] Merckx agreed to ride a light spring season in order to save himself for a chance at a sixth Tour victory.[168] He took one stage at the Paris–Nice but had to withdraw from the race's final stage due to sinusitis.[167] In the spring classics, Merckx did not win any races, with his best finish being a sixth place in the Liège–Bastogne–Liège.[167] Before the Tour, Merckx raced both the Dauphiné Libéré and Tour de Suisse, winning one stage of the latter.[167]

He admitted his poor form and anxiety about aggravating previous injuries going into the Tour de France.[169] He held on to second place overall for two weeks.[169] As the race entered the Alps, Merckx began to lose more time; he lost thirteen minutes on the stage to Alpe d'Huez alone.[169] On the stage into Saint-Étienne, Merckx attacked and gained enough time to move into sixth overall; he finished the Tour in the same position.[170] In the time following the Tour, Merckx raced twenty-two races in a span of forty days before coming in thirty-third at the UCI Road World Championships men's road race.[171] Merckx earned his final victory on the road on 17 September in a kermis race.[171] In late December, Fiat France chose to end their sponsorship of Merckx in favor of building a more French centered squad.[172]

In January, the department store C&A announced that they would sponsor a new team for Merckx after their owner met Merckx at a football game.[172] His plan for the season was to race one last Tour de France and then ride several smaller races for appearances.[173] He raced a total of five races in the 1978 calendar.[174] His last victory was in a track event, an omnium in Zürich, on 10 February 1978 with Patrick Sercu.[175] His first road race came in the Grand Prix de Montauroux on 19 February.[174] Merckx came to the front of the race and put in a large effort before swinging off and quitting the race.[172] His best finish came in the Tour de Haut, where he managed fifth.[172] He dropped out of Omloop Het Volk due to colitis and completed his final race on 19 March, a kermis in Kemzeke.[172] Following the race, Merckx went on a vacation to go skiing.[172] He returned from travel to train more, but by this point the team sponsor knew he was going to quit.[172] Merckx announced his retirement from the sport on 18 May.[172] He stated that the doctors advised him against racing.[176]

Retirement edit

Main article: Eddy Merckx Cycles
 
 
Eddy Merckx Cycles (factory pictured left) opened in 1980 and soon began producing bikes that were used by several professional cycling teams (a 1989 model used by 7-Eleven pictured right) in the last two decades of the 20th century.

Following his exit from racing, Merckx opened up Eddy Merckx Cycles on 28 March 1980 in Brussels.[177] The initial workers that were hired for the factory were trained by Ugo De Rosa, a notable bike maker, before starting.[178] The company almost went bankrupt at one point and was also caught up in a tax repayment controversy.[178] Merckx would spend time giving input on the models as they were being produced.[177][179] Despite the financial problems the brand became highly regarded and successful, being used by several top-level cycling teams in the 1980s and 1990s.[180] Merckx stepped down as CEO in 2008 and sold most of his shares,[181] but still tests the bikes that are created and has some input.[179] Cycling journalist Sam Dansie believes that Eddy Merckx Cycles has maintained a presence as an elite bicycle due to its adoption of new methods over time.[179] As of January 2015, the business is still based in Belgium and distributes to over twenty-five countries.[182]

Merckx managed the Belgian national team world championships for eleven years, between 1986 and 1996.[183] He acted as the race director for the Tour of Flanders for a brief period of time.[183] He temporarily sponsored a youth developmental team with CGER Bank, a team that featured his son Axel.[181] He helped organize the Grand Prix Eddy Merckx, which started out as an invitation only individual time trial event, later becoming a two-man time trial event.[181] The event folded after 2004 due to riders' lack of interest.[181]

He played a pivotal role in getting the Tour of Qatar started in 2002.[184] In 2001 Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar, reached out to Merckx and told him of his interest in starting a bicycle race to show off his country.[184] Merckx then contacted then Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) president Hein Verbruggen, who checked out Qatar's roads.[184] Following a successful inspection, Merckx contacted the Amaury Sport Organisation about working with him planning the race; they agreed in 2001.[184] Merckx officially co-owned the race with Dirk De Pauw and helped organize it until the race was cancelled before the 2017 edition due to financial reasons.[184][185][186] In addition, Merckx also helped Qatar secure the right to host the 2016 UCI Road World Championships, as well as designing the race route for the road race.[184][185][186] Merckx briefly co-owned and helped start the Tour of Oman in 2010.[187] In 2015, Merckx said later that although he was not racing, he knew would still be involved with the sport "as a bike builder, first in the factory and now as an ambassador."[188] In November 2017, it was announced that Merckx and his partner Dirk De Pauw split with Tour of Oman organizer ASO following an undisclosed dispute.[186]

Personal life edit

 
Eddy Merckx during an interview in 2010

Merckx officially began dating Claudine Acou in April 1965.[189] Acou was a 21-year-old teacher and daughter of the trainer of the national amateur team.[190] Merckx asked her father for permission to marry her between track races.[189] On 5 December 1967 Merckx married Acou after four years of courtship.[189][190][191] She would often handle the press for her husband, who was shy.[192] Acou gave birth to their first child, Sabrina, on 14 February 1970.[85] Merckx skipped a team training camp to be with his wife for Sabrina's birth.[85] Acou later gave birth to a son, Axel, who also became a professional cyclist.[193][194][181] Merckx was brought up speaking Flemish, but was taught French in school.[194]

In 1996 Albert II of Belgium, King of the Belgians, gave him the title of baron.[193][195] In Italy, Merckx was given the title of Cavaliere.[195] In 2011, he was named Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur by then French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris.[195][196] Merckx has become an ambassador for the Damien The Leper Society, a foundation named after a Catholic priest, which battles leprosy and other diseases in developing countries.[197] He was blessed by Pope John Paul II in Brussels in the 1990s.[197] Merckx is an art lover and stated that his favorite artist is René Magritte, a surrealist.[30] Salvador Dalí is another of his favorites.[30]

Before starting the third stage of the 1968 Giro d'Italia,[198] Merckx was found to have a heart condition.[199] A cardiologist, Giancarlo Lavezzaro, found that Merckx had non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease that has killed several young athletes.[198][199] In 2013, Merckx was given a pacemaker to help correct a heart rhythm issue.[199] The surgery was performed in Genk on 21 March and done as a preventative procedure.[199] Merckx stated that he never had any heart issues while racing, despite the fact that several males in his family died young of heart related problems.[198][199] In May 2004, he had an esophagus operation to cure stomach aches suffered since he was young.[200] In August, he reported that he lost nearly 30 kg after the procedure.[200] On 13 October 2019, Merckx was hospitalised after a cycling accident, having suffered a haemorrhage and being unconscious for a while. He was released a week later.[201]

Career achievements edit

Main article: List of career achievements by Eddy Merckx

Legacy edit

 
Merckx (pictured in August 1973) was a successful cyclist on the road and on the track, with a record of 525 victories to his credit over the course of his career.

Merckx has been regarded by many as the greatest and most successful cyclist of all time.[3][25][202][130][203][204] He rode well in the Grand Tours and in the one-day classics.[205] He was a very good time trialist and climber.[2][202][203] In addition, Merckx showed great ability to race on the track.[203] He was known for racing style that consisted of attacking constantly, which came to be known as la course en tête ("the race in the lead") for which the documentary on Merckx, "La Course en Tête" (which also has the double meaning of 'the race in your head') was named. [206][N 1] Attacking for Merckx was the best form of defence.[207] He would spend a day in a breakaway and then make another significant attack the following day.[208] Despite his constant attacking, he would occasionally ride in a defensive mindset, particularly when racing the Giro and facing Fuente.[209] Merckx entered over 1,800 races during his career and won a total of 525.[3][148][203][205][210] Due to his dominance in the sport some cycling historians refer to the period in which he raced as the "Merckx Era."[95] During his professional career, he won 445 of the 1585 races he entered.[25] Between the years of 1967 and 1977 Merckx raced between 111 and 151 races each season.[211] In 1971, he raced 120 times and won 54 of the events,[95] the most races any cyclist has won in a season. Merckx admits that he was the best of his generation, but insists it's not practical to compare across generations.[204] Given the grown internationalization and specialization in cycling nowadays, Merckx's number of road race victories will most likely never be surpassed in the future.

Merckx is one of the three riders to win all five 'Monuments of Cycling' (i.e., Milan–San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix, Liège–Bastogne–Liège, and the Giro di Lombardia), the other two being Rik Van Looy and Roger De Vlaeminck.[2][202] He finished his career with nineteen victories across the monuments, more than any other rider and eight more than the rider with the second most.[2][202][148] He won twenty-eight classic races,[203] with Paris–Tours being the only race he did not win. The closest he came to victory in the race was sixth in the 1973 race. A lesser Belgian rider, Noël van Tyghem, won Paris–Tours in 1972[212] and said: "Between us, I and Eddy Merckx have won every classic that can be won. I won Paris–Tours, Merckx won all the rest."[213]

One takes Merckx's legs, Merckx's head, Merckx's muscles, Merckx's heart and Merckx's zeal for victory.

Bernard Hinault when asked to describe the "ideal cyclist"[214]

While racing, he became the third rider to win all three Grand Tours in his career, a feat that has since been accomplished by more riders.[202][205] He holds the record for most Grand Tour victories with 11, along with the record for most stage wins across all three Grand Tours with 64.[210] He has completed the most Giro-Tour doubles in history with three.[205][210] He was the first rider to win cycling's Triple Crown which has only been accomplished one other time, by Stephen Roche in 1987.[2][202][203] He is the only rider to win the general, points and mountains classifications at the Giro d'Italia, in 1968, and at the Tour de France, in 1969.[202] Since then, the general, points and mountains classifications have been won at the Vuelta a España by Tony Rominger in 1993 and by Laurent Jalabert in 1995.[202] He shares the record for most victories at both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, with five wins at each.[95][130] In those races he also holds the records for days spent in the race leader's jersey at 78 and 96 respectively.[130][215] For his career successes in the Giro d'Italia, Merckx became the first rider inducted into the race's Hall of Fame in 2012.[215][216] When being inducted, Merckx was given the modern-day trophy with the winners engraved until 1974, the last year he won the race.[215][216] At the Tour, he shares the record for most stage wins in its history, with thirty-four.[203][210][217] The Grand Départ for the 2019 Tour de France was held in Brussels, Belgium to honor Merckx's first Tour de France win in 1969.[218][219]

He was given the nickname "The Cannibal" by the daughter of Christian Raymond, a teammate of Merckx's.[204][220] Raymond had commented on Merckx not allowing anyone else to win, to which his daughter referred to Merckx as a cannibal.[220][204] Raymond liked the nickname and then mentioned it to the press.[220] In Italy, he was known as il mostro ("the Monster").[221]

Dutch cyclist Joop Zoetemelk said "First there was Merckx, and then another classification began behind him."[25] Cycling journalist and commentator Phil Liggett wrote that if Merckx started a race, many riders acknowledged that they likely would be competing for second place.[222] Ted Costantino wrote that Merckx was undoubtedly the number one cyclist of all time, whereas in other sports there are debates that go on about who is actually the greatest of all time.[25] Gianni Motta told of how Merckx would ride without a racing cape when it was snowing or raining in order to go faster than other riders.[223] Even after his retirement, many subsequent stars still feel overshadowed by his fame and race results. Merckx befriended Fiorenzo Magni when he began racing for an Italian team.[224] He was criticized by opposing riders for his relentless pursuit of victory that prevented even lesser known riders from collecting a few victories.[225] When told that he won too much, Merckx stated that "The day when I start a race without intending to win it, I won't be able to look at myself in the mirror."[226]

Records Overview edit

Grand Tours edit

 
Eddy Merckx in the 1970 Tour de France.

Classic races edit

Other edit

 
Merckx celebrating his first UCI world title in 1967.
World hour record edit
Discipline Record Date Event Velodrome Ref
Hour record 49.431 km 25 October 1972 — Agustín Melgar Olympic Velodrome, Mexico City [227]

Doping edit

 
Merckx (pictured during at 1969 Six Days of Milan) was involved in three separate doping incidents during his career.

Merckx was leading the 1969 Giro d'Italia upon the conclusion of the sixteenth stage in Savona.[228][229][230] After the stage, Merckx went to the mobile lab that traveled with the race and conducted the drug tests.[231][N 2] Merckx's first test came up positive for fencamfamine, an amphetamine.[228][229][230][231] A second test was conducted and also came up positive.[229][230][231] Controversially, the results of the test were announced to the press before Merckx and his team were informed.[232] The positive test meant Merckx was to be suspended for a month.[233] Race director Vincenzo Torriani delayed the start of the seventeenth stage in an attempt to persuade the president of the Italian Cycling Federation to allow Merckx to begin the stage.[230] However, the president was not in his office and Torriani was forced to start the stage, disqualifying Merckx in the process.[230] In the succeeding days, the UCI removed the suspension put in place.[229][230]

From the start, Merckx claimed his innocence saying that "I am a clean rider, I do not need to take anything to win." Prior, Merckx was tested 8 times negative in this Giro.[234] The major part of the international press believed in Merckx’ innocence, stating that with his lead, it was illogical that he would use banned substances in an easy stage, moreover knowing a doping test was likely to follow (being the leader).[235] He maintains that his samples were mishandled.[229][230][236] After the incident, several conspiracy theories emerged including: the urine that tested positive was not Merckx's,[237] and Merckx had been given a water bottle with the stimulant in it.[238] All moves to give Italian Felice Gimondi a better chance at victory.[239][238][232]

On 8 November 1973, it was announced that Merckx had tested positive for norephedrine after winning the Giro di Lombardia a month earlier.[240][241] Upon learning of the first test being positive in later October, he had a counter-analysis performed which also turned up positive.[240] The drug was present in a cough medicine that the Molteni doctor, Dr. Cavalli, prescribed to him.[240] Merckx was disqualified from the race and the victory was awarded to second-place finisher Gimondi.[240][241][242] In addition, Merckx was given a month suspension and fined 150,000 lira.[240][241] Merckx admitted his fault in taking the medicine but said that the name norephedrine was not on the bottle of cough syrup he used.[240] Norephedrine was later removed from the WADA-list of banned substances.[243]

On 8 May 1977, Merckx, along with several other riders, tested positive for pemoline, a stimulant in Stimul, at La Flèche Wallonne.[244][245][246][247][248] The group of riders was charged by the Belgian cycling federation, and the riders were each given a 24,000 pesetas fine and a one-month suspension.[248] Initially, Merckx announced his intention to appeal the penalty, saying he only took substances that were not on the banned list.[248] Merckx's 8th-place finish in the race was voided. Years later, Merckx admitted he did take a banned substance, citing that he was wrong to have trusted a doctor.

Due to Merckx's positive tests during his career, he was asked by the event organizers to stay away from the 2007 UCI Road World Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.[249] The organizers stated that "[they] had to be role models", while Merckx wrote them off claiming them to be crazy.[249] Merckx was not alone, as several other riders were asked to keep their distance from the event.[249]

Honours and awards edit

Titles of honour edit

Sport awards and honours edit

Places and statues edit

 
Eddy Merckx Monument in Meise

Events and awards edit

Popular culture edit

 
Merckx on a 1969 Stamp of Ajman

Music edit

  • The single Vas-Y Eddy (1967) by Jean Saint-Paul is notable for being the first recorded song about Merckx
  • Eddy Prend Le Maillot Jaune, a song by Pierre-André Gil was released after his first Tour de France victory
  • The single Bravo Eddy! by Jean Narcy was released in 1970
  • Eddy Est Imbattable! by Pierre-André Gil was released in 1971
  • Merckx is mentioned in the 1974 song Paris-New York, New York-Paris by Jacques Higelin
  • Eddy Merckx is a song by the Belgian band Sttellla on the album Il faut tourner l'Apache in 1998
  • He is quoted in Mysa's 2009 rap song Monde Sale: "...everything is fake, ask Eddy Merckx"
  • 10 Speed Cannibal, a song by the band CröMöly was released in 2011

Films and series edit

Comic books edit

  • Les Fabuleux Exploits d'Eddy Merckx, a celebrity comic, was released in 1973. It was translated in different languages
  • Eddy Merckx appears in the comic strip San-Antonio Fait un Tour published by Fleuve Noir in 1973
  • He appears as a speedy messenger in the comic book Asterix in Belgium of the Asterix series by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, published in 1979
  • A tribute to Eddy Merckx is paid in the 1987 Boule et Bill album nr. 24, Billets de Bill
  • Another tribute is paid in one of the adventures of Donald Duck, who must compete against the champion of his uncle's rival: "Dydy Berkxz"

Books edit

In English edit

  • The Champion Eddy Merckx by Claude le Boul in 1987, Ludion, 71 p. (Collected paintings; English, Dutch, French)
  • Eddy Merckx: The Greatest Cyclist of the 20th Century by Rik Vanwalleghem and Steven Hawkins in 1996, VeloPress, 216 p. (English) ISBN 9781884737725
  • Thorne, Brian; Lambers, Elke (1998). Person-Centred Therapy: A European Perspective. SAGE. ISBN 978-0-7619-5155-1.
  • Liggett, Phil; Raia, James; Lewis, Sammarye (27 May 2005). Tour De France For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-7645-8449-7.
  • Foot, John (3 May 2011). Pedalare! Pedalare!. A&C Black. ISBN 978-1-4088-1755-1.
  • Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill (9 September 2011). Historical Dictionary of Cycling. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7369-8.
  • Friebe, Daniel (2012). Eddy Merckx: The Cannibal. Ebury Press. ISBN 978-0-09-194314-1.
  • Eddy Merckx 525 by Frederik Backelandt & Karl Vannieuwkerke in 2012, Kannibaal, 224 p. (English, Dutch) ISBN 9781934030899
  • Nauright, John; Parrish, Charles (2012). Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1-59884-300-2.
  • Fotheringham, William (2012). Merckx: Half Man, Half Bike. Yellow Jersey Press. ISBN 978-0-224-09195-4.
  • Fotheringham, William (1 April 2013). Half Man, Half Bike: The Life of Eddy Merckx, Cycling's Greatest Champion. Chicago Review Press. ISBN 978-1-61374-729-2.
  • Moore, Richard; Benson, Daniel (2013). The racing bicycle : design, function, speed. Foreword by Robert Penn. New York: Universe. ISBN 9780789324658.
  • Merckx 69: Celebrating the World's Greatest Cyclist in his Finest Year by Tonny Strouken and Jan Maes in 2015, Bloomsbury Publishing 180 p. (English, Dutch, French) ISBN 9781472910646
  • The Dream of Eddy Merckx by Freddy Merckx in 2019, Sportliteratuur Uitgeverij, 56 p. (English, Dutch, French) ISBN 9781513646121
  • De Rivals of Merckx by Filip Osselaer in 2019, Borgerhoff & Lamberigts, 208 p. (English, Dutch, French) ISBN 9789089319852
  • 1969 – The Year of Eddy Merckx by Johny Vansevenant in 2019, Lannoo, 432 p. (English, Dutch, French) ISBN 9789401462860[295]

In other languages edit

  • Eddy Merckx by Louis Clicteur & Lucien Berghmans in 1967, 164 p. (Dutch)
  • Mijn Wegjournaal by Louis Clicteur in 1971, 176 p. (Dutch)
  • Eddy Merckx Story by Jan Cornand in 1978, 111 p. (Dutch)
  • Eddy Merckx – Mijn Levensverhaal by Robert Janssens in 1989, 208 p. (Dutch) ISBN 9789028914650
  • Eddy Merckx – De Mens achter de Kannibaal by Rik Vanwalleghem in 1993, 216 p. (Dutch, French) ISBN 9789073322059
  • Spraakmakende biografie van Eddy Merckx by Philippe Brunel in 2005, 192 p. (Dutch)
  • De Mannen achter Merckx : het Verhaal van Faema en Molteni by Patrick Cornillie and Johny Vansevenant in 2006, 304 p. (Dutch, French) ISBN 90-77562-28-1
  • Fietspassie/La Passion du Vélo by Toon Claes and Eddy Merckx in 2008, 196 p. (Dutch, French) ISBN 9789086792047
  • De Zomer van '69, hoe Merckx won van Armstrong by Patrick Cornillie in 2009, 343 p. (Dutch) ISBN 9789086792023
  • Merckxissimo by Karl Vannieuwkerke & Stephan Vanfleteren in 2009, 144 p. (Dutch, French) ISBN 978 90 8138 940 2
  • Eddy Merckx en Ik – Herinneringen aan de Kannibaal by Stefaan Van Laere in 2010, 184 p. (Dutch)
  • Eddy Merckx – Getuigenissen van Jan Wauters by Jan Wauters in 2010, 176 p. (Dutch) ISBN 9789089311450
  • Mannen tegen Merckx – van Van Looy tot Maertens by Johny Vansevenant in 2012 (Dutch) ISBN 9789491376214
  • Eddy Merckx – Een leven by Daniel Friebe in 2013, 272 p. (Dutch) ISBN 9789401404471
  • Eddy Merckx – De biografie by Johny Vansevenant in 2015, 400 p. (Dutch, French) ISBN 9789492081513
  • Eddy! Eddy! Eddy! De Tour in België by Geert de Vriese in 2019, 256 p. (Dutch) ISBN 9789089247308
  • 50 jaar Merckx – Jubileum van een Tourlegende by Tonny Strouken in 2020, 140 p. (Dutch, French) ISBN 9789059247314
  • L'Irrésistible Ascension d'un Jeune Champion by Pierre Thonon in 1968, 170 p. (French)
  • Merckx ou la Rage de Vaincre by Léon Zitrone in 1969, 208 p. (French) ASIN B0061R9A8O
  • Qui êtes-vous Eddy Merckx? by Marc Jeuniau in 1969, 112 p. (French) ASIN B008AWK3MK
  • Du Maillot Arc en Ciel au Maillot Jaune by Pierre Thonon in 1970, 167 p. (French)
  • Le Phénomène Eddy Merckx et ses Rivaux by François Terbeen in 1971, 185 p. (French) ASIN B003WRURD8
  • Face à Face avec Eddy Merckx by Marc Jeuniau in 1971, 111 p. (French)
  • Mes Carnets de Route en 1971 by Marc Jeuniau in 1971, 159 p. (French)
  • Plus d'un Tour dans Mon Sac: Mes Carnets de Route 1972 by Marc Jeuniau in 1972, 158 p. (French)
  • Eddy Merckx cet Inconnu by Roger Bastide in 1972, 124 p. (French)
  • Les Exploits Fabuleux d'Eddy Merckx by Yves Duval and Christian Lippens in 1973, 48 p. (Comic book in French)
  • Mes 50 Victoires en 1973: Mes carnets de route 1973 by René Jacobs in 1973, 159 p. (French)
  • Merckx / Ocana : Duel au Sommet by François Terbeen in 1974, 217 p. (French)
  • Coureur Cycliste: Un Homme et son Métier by Eddy Merckx and Pierre Chany in 1974, 248 p. (French) ISBN 9782221231975
  • Ma Chasse aux Maillots Rose, Jaune, Arc-en-Ciel: Mes Carnets de route 1974 by Eddy Merckx, Marc Jeuniau, Pierre Depré in 1974, 158 p. (French) ASIN B0014MKH4C
  • Le Livre d'Or de Eddy Merckx by Georges Pagnoud in 1976, 111 p. (French) ISBN 978-2263000218
  • Eddy Merckx l'Homme du Défi by Marc Jeuniau in 1977, 220 p. (French) ISBN 2801600911
  • La Roue de la Fortune, du Champion à l'Homme d'Affaires by Joël Godaert in 1989, 208 p. (French) ISBN 2 7130 1006 3
  • Eddy Merckx, l'Épopée by Théo Mathy in 1999, 159 p. (French) ISBN 9782507000455
  • Merckx Intime by Philippe Brunel in 2002, 159 p. (French) ISBN 9782702132289
  • Eddy Merckx, Ma Véritable Histoire by Stéphane Thirion in 2006, 200 p. (French) ISBN 9782930359595
  • Eddy Merckx, les Tours de France d'un Champion Unique by Théo Mathy in 2008, 200 p. (French) ISBN 9782507000455
  • Tour 75 : Le Rêve du Cannibale by Laurent Watiez in 2010, 103 p. (French) ISBN 9782916655208
  • Dans l'Ombre d'Eddy Merckx – Les Hommes qui ont Couru contre le Cannibale by Johny Vansevenant in 2012, 384 p. (French) ISBN 9782507050849
  • Cazeneuve, Thierry; Chany, Pierre (2011). La fabuleuse histoire du Tour de France [The Story of the Tour de France] (in French) (Nouv. éd. ed.). Paris: La Martinière. ISBN 9782732447926.
  • Coup de Foudre dans l'Aubisque: Eddy Merckx dans la Légende by Bertrand Lucq in 2015, 136 p. (French) ISBN 2758800454
  • Eddy : Ma Saison des Classiques en Version 1973 by François Paoletti in 2015, 212 p. (French) ISBN 9782940585038
  • Eddy Merckx, c’est Beaucoup plus qu’Eddy Merckx by Christophe Penot in 2015, 48 p. (French) ISBN 9782844211262
  • Sur les Traces d'Eddy Merckx by Jean-Louis Lahaye and ean-Louis Lahaye in 2016, 250 p. (French) ISBN 9782507053420
  • La Fabuleuse Carrière d'Eddy Merckx en un Survol by Michel Crepel in 2016, 202 p. (French) ISBN 9782334149334
  • Eddy Été 69 by Jean-Paul Vespini in 2019, 191 p. (French) ISBN 9782970132912
  • On m'Appelait le Cannibale by Stéphane Thirion in 2019, 255 p. (French) ISBN 9782875573919
  • Eddy Merckx : Analyse d'une Légende by Jean Cléder in 2019, 224 p. (French) ISBN 9782372541183
  • Merckx-Ocana: Le Bel Ete 1971 by Pascal Sergent in 2021, 153 p. (French) ISBN 9782490997046
  • E non Chiamatemi (più) Cannibale. Vita e Imprese di Eddy Merckx by Angelo De Lorenzi in 2003, 153 p. (Italian) ISBN 9788888551210
  • Il Sessantotto a Pedali. Al Giro con Eddy Merckx by Francesco Ricci in 2008, 151 p. (Italian) ISBN 9788860410825
  • Fausto Coppi Eddy Merckx. Due campionissimi a confronto by Luciano Boccaccini in 2011, 112 p. (Italian) ISBN 9788875494353
  • Chiedimi chi Era Merckx. Le Stagioni di Eddy dall'Esordio al Congedo by Porreca G. Paolo in 2013, 237 p. (Italian) ISBN 9788867760206
  • Merckx, il Figlio del Tuono (Merckx, the Son of Thunder) by Claudio Gregori in 2016, 570 p. (Italian) ISBN 9788898876587
  • Gimondi & Merckx. La Sfida by Giorgio Martino in 2019, 159 p. (Italian) ISBN 9788898970469
  • Eddy Merckx by Helmer Boelsen in 1973, 128 p. (German) ISBN 9783767900134
  • Die Nacht, in der Ich Eddy Merckx Bezwang by Marc Locatelli in 2019, 48 p. (German) ISBN 9783037311936

See also edit

References edit

Footnotes

  1. ^ This term was popularized by the eponymous film by Joel Santoni that documented Merckx's racing.[206]
  2. ^ At the 1969 Giro d'Italia the top two in the general classification were drug tested after each stage, along with two other cyclists chosen at random.[231]

Citations

  1. ^ Clemitson, Suze (4 April 2014). "Remembering how Eddy Merckx won at home in the 1969 Tour of Flanders". The Guardian. from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d "'Merckx 525:' A tribute to the Cannibal". VeloNews. Competitor Group. from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  4. ^ a b Friebe 2012, p. 104.
  5. ^ a b Fotheringham 2012, p. 20.
  6. ^ Fotheringham 2012, p. 22.
  7. ^ Robb, Graham (16 March 2012). "Merckx: Half-Man, Half-Bike by William Fotheringham – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  8. ^ Fotheringham 2012, p. 23.
  9. ^ Fotheringham 2012, pp. 23–24.
  10. ^ Fotheringham 2012, p. 24.
  11. ^ a b Fotheringham 2012, p. 25.
  12. ^ Pietrasik, Andy (29 June 2013). "Eddy Merckx: this much I know". The Guardian. from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  13. ^ Fotheringham 2012, p. 30.
  14. ^ Fotheringham 2012, p. 28–29.
  15. ^ Fotheringham 2012, p. 31.
  16. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 15–16.
  17. ^ Friebe 2012, p. 108.
  18. ^ a b Fotheringham 2012, p. 32.
  19. ^ Friebe 2012, pp. 108–109.
  20. ^ Friebe 2012, p. 109–110.
  21. ^ a b "Eddy Merckx". Encyclopedia of World Biography. HighBeam Research. 2008. from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  22. ^ "Prova su strada" [Road test]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 23 October 1964. p. 4. from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  23. ^ a b Heijmans & Mallon 2011, p. 131.
  24. ^ Boccacini, Gigi (6 September 1964). "Invano si è sperato nella volata di Armani" [It is hoped in vain sprint Armani]. La Stampa (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. p. 9. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  25. ^ a b c d e "Happy Birthday, Eddy!". VeloNews. Competitor Group. 17 June 2005. from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2008.
  26. ^ L'Équipe, France, 13 March 2007
  27. ^ Friebe 2012, p. 17.
  28. ^ a b Friebe 2012, p. 19.
  29. ^ a b Fotheringham 2013, p. 49.
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  32. ^ "World Championships 1965: results Men". The-Sports.org. Québec, Canada: Info Média Conseil. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  33. ^ Friebe 2012, p. 20.
  34. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 53.
  35. ^ a b Fotheringham 2013, p. 51.
  36. ^ a b c Fotheringham 2013, p. 52.
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  38. ^ a b c Fotheringham 2013, p. 57.
  39. ^ a b c Fotheringham 2013, p. 58.
  40. ^ a b c d Fotheringham 2013, p. 59.
  41. ^ "Oggi 202 partenti" [Today 202 participate]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 18 March 1967. p. 2. from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  42. ^ a b c Fotheringham 2013, p. 60.
  43. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 62.
  44. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 64.
  45. ^ McGann, Bill; McGann, Carol. "1967 Giro d'Italia". Bike Race Info. Dog Ear Publishing. from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
  46. ^ a b Fotheringham 2013, p. 65.
  47. ^ a b Fotheringham 2013, p. 66.
  48. ^ a b c d e Fotheringham 2013, p. 68.
  49. ^ a b "Merckx, nuevo Campeón del Mundo, Fondo Carretera" [Merckx, new World Champion Road Fund] (PDF). El Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 4 September 1967. p. 5. (PDF) from the original on 30 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
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  53. ^ a b c d e McGann, Bill; McGann, Carol. "1968 Giro d'Italia". Bike Race Info. Dog Ear Publishing. from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2012.
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  56. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 75.
  57. ^ Fotheringham 2013, pp. 76–77.
  58. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 293.
  59. ^ a b c Fotheringham 2013, p. 88.
  60. ^ a b Fotheringham 2013, p. 86.
  61. ^ a b c Fotheringham 2013, p. 87.
  62. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 89.
  63. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 100–101.
  64. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 101.
  65. ^ Fotheringham 2013, pp. 101–102.
  66. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 107.
  67. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 110.
  68. ^ Fotheringham 2013, pp. 119–120.
  69. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 112.
  70. ^ Fotheringham 2013, pp. 112–113.
  71. ^ a b Fotheringham 2013, p. 113.
  72. ^ a b Fotheringham 2013, p. 114.
  73. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 123.
  74. ^ a b Fotheringham 2013, p. 128.
  75. ^ Fotheringham 2013, pp. 128–129.
  76. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 129.
  77. ^ a b c Fotheringham 2013, p. 134.
  78. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 133.
  79. ^ a b c d Fotheringham 2013, p. 135.
  80. ^ a b c d Fotheringham 2013, p. 136.
  81. ^ a b c d Fotheringham 2013, p. 137.
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  86. ^ Fotheringham 2013, pp. 140–141.
  87. ^ a b c d Fotheringham 2013, p. 141.
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  92. ^ a b Fotheringham 2013, p. 145.
  93. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 146.
  94. ^ a b c d e f Fotheringham 2013, p. 162.
  95. ^ a b c d Foot 2011, p. 225.
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  98. ^ a b c Fotheringham 2013, p. 165.
  99. ^ a b c d e f Fotheringham 2013, p. 166.
  100. ^ Fotheringham 2013, pp. 166–167.
  101. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 167.
  102. ^ Fotheringham 2013, pp. 168–169.
  103. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 170.
  104. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 171.
  105. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 172.
  106. ^ Fotheringham 2013, p. 173.
  107. ^ a b Fotheringham 2013, p. 174.
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  124. ^ a b Fotheringham 2013, p. 200.
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  126. ^ a b Fotheringham 2013, p. 198.
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  156. ^ a b c d e Fotheringham 2013, p. 261.
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External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eddy Merckx.
  • Eddy Merckx at Cycling Archives
  • Eddy Merckx at Olympedia
  • Eddy Merckx at Olympics.com
  • at OlympicChannel.com (archived)
  • at Olympic.org (archived)
Records
Preceded by UCI hour record (49.431 km)
25 October 1972 – 27 October 2000 		Succeeded by
Belgian nobility
New creation Baron Merckx
1996– 		Incumbent

December 08, 2023
eddy, merckx, bicycle, brand, cycles, billiards, player, billiards, player, Édouard, louis, joseph, baron, merckx, dutch, mɛr, french, mɛʁks, born, june, 1945, belgian, former, professional, road, track, cyclist, racer, most, successful, rider, history, compet. For the bicycle brand see Eddy Merckx Cycles For the billiards player see Eddy Merckx billiards player Edouard Louis Joseph Baron Merckx Dutch mɛr e ks French mɛʁks born 17 June 1945 is a Belgian former professional road and track cyclist racer who is the most successful rider in the history of competitive cycling His victories include an unequalled eleven Grand Tours five Tours de France five Giros d Italia and a Vuelta a Espana all five Monuments setting the hour record three World Championships every major one day race other than Paris Tours and extensive victories on the track Eddy MerckxMerckx in 1971Personal informationFull nameEdouard Louis Joseph MerckxNicknameDe Kannibaal The Cannibal 1 Born 1945 06 17 17 June 1945 age 78 Meensel Kiezegem BelgiumHeight1 82 m 5 ft 11 1 2 in 2 Weight74 kg 163 lb 11 st 9 lb 2 Team informationCurrent teamRetiredDisciplineRoad and trackRoleRiderRider typeAll rounderAmateur team1961 1964Evere Kerkhoek SportifProfessional teams1965Solo Superia1966 1967Peugeot BP Michelin1968 1970Faema1971 1976Molteni1977Fiat France1978C amp AMajor winsRoadGrand Tours Tour de FranceGeneral classification 1969 1970 1971 1972 1974 Points classification 1969 1971 1972 Mountains classification 1969 1970 Combination classification 1969 1970 1971 1972 1974 Combativity award 1969 1970 1974 1975 34 individual stages 1969 1972 1974 1975 dd Giro d ItaliaGeneral classification 1968 1970 1972 1973 1974 Points classification 1968 1973 Mountains classification 1968 24 individual stages 1967 1970 1972 1973 1974 dd Vuelta a EspanaGeneral classification 1973 Points classification 1973 Combination classification 1973 6 individual stages 1973 dd Stage races Escalada a Montjuic 1966 1970 1971 1972 1974 1975 A travers Lausanne 1968 1970 1972 1973 Giro di Sardegna 1968 1971 1973 1975 Tour de Romandie 1968 Volta a Catalunya 1968 Paris Luxembourg 1969 Paris Nice 1969 1970 1971 Vuelta a Levante 1969 Tour of Belgium 1970 1971 Criterium du Dauphine Libere 1971 Tour de Suisse 1974 Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme 1975 1976 One day races and Classics World Road Race Championships 1967 1971 1974 National Road Race Championships 1970 Milan San Remo 1966 1967 1969 1971 1972 1975 1976 Paris Roubaix 1968 1970 1973 Tour of Flanders 1969 1975 Liege Bastogne Liege 1969 1971 1972 1973 1975 Giro di Lombardia 1971 1972 La Fleche Wallonne 1967 1970 1972 Gent Wevelgem 1967 1970 1973 Omloop Het Volk 1971 1973 Grand Prix du Midi Libre 1971 Rund um den Henninger Turm 1971 Giro del Piemonte 1972 Amstel Gold Race 1973 1975 Paris Brussels 1973 Giro dell Emilia 1973 Grand Prix de Fourmies 1973 Trofeo Laigueglia 1973 1974 Other Super Prestige Pernod International 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 GP Baden Baden 1971 Hour Record 1972 Grand Prix des Nations 1973 Track European ChampionshipsMadison 1970 1977 Omnium 1975 dd National ChampionshipsMadison 1966 1967 1968 1974 1975 1976 dd Medal record Representing BelgiumMen s road bicycle racingWorld Championships1964 Sallanches Amateurs road race1967 Heerlen Professional road race1971 Mendrisio Professional road race1974 Montreal Professional road raceMen s track cyclingEuropean Championships1970 Koln Madison1975 Grenoble Omnium1977 Copenhagen Madison1968 Gent Omnium1970 Gent OmniumBorn in Meensel Kiezegem Brabant Belgium he grew up in Sint Pieters Woluwe where his parents ran a grocery store He played several sports but found his true passion in cycling Merckx got his first bicycle at the age of three or four and competed in his first race in 1961 His first victory came at Petit Enghien in October 1961 After winning eighty races as an amateur racer he turned professional on 29 April 1965 when he signed with Solo Superia His first major victory came in the Milan San Remo a year later after switching to Peugeot BP Michelin After the 1967 season Merckx moved to Faema and won the Giro d Italia his first Grand Tour victory Four times between 1970 and 1974 Merckx completed a Grand Tour double His final double also coincided with winning the elite men s road race at the UCI Road World Championships to make him the first rider to accomplish cycling s Triple Crown Merckx broke the hour record in October 1972 extending the record by almost 800 metres He acquired the nickname The Cannibal suggested by the daughter of a teammate upon being told by her father of how Merckx would not let anyone else win Merckx achieved 525 victories over his eighteen year career He is one of only three riders to have won all five Monuments Milan San Remo Tour of Flanders Paris Roubaix Liege Bastogne Liege and the Giro di Lombardia and the only one to have won them all twice or more Merckx was successful on the road and also on the track as well as in the large stage races and one day races He is almost universally regarded as the greatest and most successful rider in the history of cycling Since Merckx s retirement from the sport on 18 May 1978 he has remained active in the cycling world He began his own bicycle brand Eddy Merckx Cycles in 1980 and its bicycles were used by several professional teams in the 1980s 1990s and early 2000s Merckx coached the Belgian national cycling team for eleven years stopping in 1996 He helped start and organize the Tour of Qatar from its start in 2002 until its final edition in 2016 He also assisted in running the Tour of Oman before a disagreement with the organizers led him to step away in 2017 Contents 1 Early life and amateur career 2 Professional career 2 1 1965 1967 Solo Superia and Peugeot BP Michelin 2 1 1 1965 First professional season 2 1 2 1966 First Monument victory 2 1 3 1967 Second straight Milan San Remo and world champion 2 2 1968 1970 Faema 2 2 1 1968 First Grand Tour victory 2 2 2 1969 A victory in Paris and injury in Blois 2 2 3 1970 A Giro Tour double 2 3 1971 1976 Molteni 2 3 1 1971 A third consecutive Tour and second world championship 2 3 2 1972 Breaking the hour record alongside a Giro Tour double 2 3 3 1973 A Giro Vuelta double 2 3 4 1974 Completion of cycling s Triple Crown 2 3 5 1975 Second place at the Tour 2 3 6 1976 A record seventh Milan San Remo 2 4 1977 1978 Fiat France and C amp A 3 Retirement 4 Personal life 5 Career achievements 6 Legacy 6 1 Records Overview 6 1 1 Grand Tours 6 1 2 Classic races 6 1 3 Other 6 1 3 1 World hour record 7 Doping 8 Honours and awards 8 1 Titles of honour 8 2 Sport awards and honours 8 3 Places and statues 8 4 Events and awards 9 Popular culture 9 1 Music 9 2 Films and series 9 3 Comic books 10 Books 10 1 In English 10 2 In other languages 11 See also 12 References 13 External linksEarly life and amateur career editEdouard Louis Joseph Merckx was born in Meensel Kiezegem 3 Brabant Belgium on 17 June 1945 to Jules Merckx and Jenny Pittomvils 4 5 Merckx was the first born of the family 4 5 In September 1946 the family moved to Sint Pieters Woluwe in Brussels Belgium in order to take over a grocery store that had been up for lease 6 7 In May 1948 Jenny gave birth to twins a boy Michel and a girl Micheline 8 As a child Eddy was hyperactive and was always playing outside 9 Eddy was a competitive child and played several sports including basketball football table tennis and boxing the latter in which he won some local boxing tournaments 10 11 He even played lawn tennis for the local junior team 11 However Merckx claimed he knew he wanted to be a cyclist at the age of four and that his first memory was a crash on his bike when he was the same age 12 Merckx began riding a bike at the age of three or four and would ride to school every day beginning at age eight 13 Merckx would imitate his cycling idol Stan Ockers with his friends when they rode bikes together 14 In summer 1961 Merckx bought his first racing license and competed in his first official race a month after he turned sixteen coming in sixth place 15 He rode in twelve more races before winning his first at Petit Enghien on 1 October 1961 16 17 3 In the winter following his first victory he trained with former racer Felicien Vervaecke at the local velodrome 18 Merckx won his second victory on 11 March 1962 in a kermis race 18 Merckx competed in 55 races during the 1962 calendar year as he devoted more time to cycling his grades at school began to decline 19 After winning the Belgian amateur road race title Merckx declined an offer from his school s headmaster to have his exams postponed and dropped out of school 20 21 He finished the season with 23 victories to his name 21 Merckx was selected for the men s road race at the 1964 Summer Olympics where he finished in twelfth position 22 2 Later in the season he won the amateur road race at the UCI Road World Championships in Sallanches France 23 24 Merckx remained an amateur until April 1965 and finished his amateur career with eighty wins to his credit 25 26 Professional career edit1965 1967 Solo Superia and Peugeot BP Michelin edit 1965 First professional season edit Merckx turned professional on 29 April 1965 when he signed with Rik Van Looy s Belgian team Solo Superia 27 He won his first race in Vilvoorde beating Emile Daems 28 29 On 1 August 28 Merckx finished second in the Belgian national championships which qualified him for the men s road race at the UCI Road World Championships 30 Raphael Geminiani the manager of the Bic cycling team approached Merckx at the event and offered him 2 500 francs a month to join the team the following season 31 Merckx chose to sign however since he was a minor the contract was invalid 31 After finishing the road race in 29th position 32 Merckx returned to Belgium and discussed his plans for the next season with his manager Jean Van Buggenhout 31 Van Buggenhout helped orchestrate a move that sent Merckx to the French based Peugeot BP Michelin for 20 000 francs a month 31 Merckx elected to leave Solo Superia due to the way he was treated by his teammates in particular Van Looy 30 Van Looy and other teammates mocked Merckx for his various habits such as his eating or called him names 33 In addition Merckx later stated that during his time with Van Looy s team he had not been taught anything 29 30 While with Solo Superia he won nine races out of the nearly 70 races he entered 31 34 1966 First Monument victory edit nbsp Merckx finished in twelfth position in the men s road race at the 1966 UCI Road World Championships In March 1966 Merckx entered his first major stage race as a professional rider the Paris Nice 35 He took the race lead for a single stage before losing it to Jacques Anquetil and eventually coming in fourth overall 35 Milan San Remo his first participation in one of cycling s Monuments was the next event on the calendar for Merckx There he succeeded in staying with the main field as the race entered the final climb of the Poggio 36 He attacked on the climb and reduced the field to a group of eleven himself included 37 Merckx was advised by his manager to hold off on sprinting full out to the finish line until as late as possible 36 Three other riders reached the line with him Merckx however beat them in the sprint 36 In the following weeks he raced the Tour of Flanders and Paris Roubaix the most important cobbled classics in the former he crashed and in the latter he had a punctured tire 38 At the 1966 UCI Road World Championships he finished twelfth in the road race after suffering a cramp in the closing kilometers 38 He finished 1966 season with a total of 20 wins including his first stage race win at the Tour of Morbihan 38 1967 Second straight Milan San Remo and world champion edit Merckx opened the 1967 campaign with two stage victories at the Giro di Sardegna 39 He followed these successes by entering Paris Nice where he won the second stage and took the race lead 39 Two stages later a teammate Tom Simpson attacked with several other riders on a climb and was nearly 20 minutes ahead of Merckx who remained in a group behind 39 Merckx attacked two days later on a climb 70 km into the stage 40 He was able to establish a firm advantage but obeyed orders from his manager to wait for the chasing Simpson 40 Merckx won the stage while Simpson secured his overall victory 40 nbsp At the 1967 Giro d Italia Merckx won his first Grand Tour stages on the way to finishing ninth overall On 18 March 41 Merckx started the Milan San Remo and was seen as a 120 1 favorite to win the race 40 He attacked on the Capo Berta and again on the Poggio leaving only Gianni Motta with him 42 The two slowed their pace and were joined by two more riders 42 Merckx won the four man sprint to the finish 42 His next victory came in La Fleche Wallonne after he missed out on an early break caught up to it and attacked from it to win the race 43 On 20 May he started the Giro d Italia his first Grand Tour 44 He won the twelfth and fourteenth stages en route to finishing ninth in the general classification 45 He signed with Faema on 2 September for ten years worth 400 000 Belgian francs 46 He chose to switch over in order to be in complete control over the team he was racing for 46 In addition he would not have to pay for various expenses that came with racing such as wheels and tires 47 The next day Merckx started the men s road race at the 1967 UCI Road World Championships in Heerlen Netherlands 48 The course consisted of ten laps of a circuit 47 Motta attacked on the first lap and was joined by Merckx and five other riders 48 The group thinned to five as they reached the finish line where Merckx was able to out sprint Jan Janssen for first place 48 49 In doing so he became the third rider to win the world road race amateur and professional titles 48 By winning the race he earned the right to wear the rainbow jersey as world champion 48 49 1968 1970 Faema edit 1968 First Grand Tour victory edit Merckx s first victory with his new team came in a stage win at the Giro di Sardegna 50 At Paris Nice he was forced to quit the race due to a knee injury he sustained during the event 51 He failed to win his third consecutive Milan San Remo and missed out at the Tour of Flanders the following weekend 51 His next victory came at Paris Roubaix when he bested Herman Van Springel in a race that was plagued by poor weather and several punctures to the competing riders 51 nbsp During the twelfth stage of the 1968 Giro d Italia Merckx caught the leading group passed them and rode solo to the stage finish atop the Tre Cime di Lavaredo pictured in poor weather to win the stage and take the race lead At the behest of his team Merckx raced the Giro d Italia instead of the Tour de France 51 He won the race s second stage after he attacked with one kilometer to go 52 53 The twelfth stage was marred by rainy weather and featured the climbs of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo for the stage finish 53 By the time Merckx had reached the penultimate climb there was a six man group at the front of the race with a nine minute advantage 54 Merckx attacked and was able to get a sizable distance between himself and the group he left before he stopped to change his wheel in order to slow down due to orders from his team manager 53 55 Merckx got back on his bike and caught the leading breakaway and rode past it to the finish where he won the stage and took the race lead 53 56 Merckx went on to win the race along with the points classification and mountains classification 53 In the Volta a Catalunya Merckx took the race lead from Gimondi in the race s time trial stage and won the event as a whole 57 He finished the season with 32 wins in the 129 races he entered 58 1969 A victory in Paris and injury in Blois edit Merckx opened the 1969 season with victories at the Vuelta a Levante and the Paris Nice overall as well as stages in each of the races 59 On 30 March 1969 Merckx earned his first major victory of the 1969 calendar with his win at the Tour of Flanders 60 On a rainy day that featured strong winds 60 he attacked first on the Oude Kwaremont but a puncture nullified any gains he was able to establish 61 He made a move on the Kapelmuur and was followed by a few riders 61 As the wind shifted from a crosswind to a headwind with close to seventy kilometers left to go Merckx increased the pace and rode solo to victory 61 The seventeen days after the Tour of Flanders saw Merckx win nine times 59 He won Milan San Remo by descending the Poggio at high speed 59 Merckx saw victory again in mid April at the Liege Bastogne Liege when he attacked with 70 kilometers remaining 62 He began the Giro d Italia on 16 May stating that he wished to ride less aggressively than the year before in order to save energy for the Tour de France 63 Merckx had won four of the race s stages and held the race lead going into the sixteenth day of racing 64 However before the start of the stage race director Vincenzo Torriani along with a television camera and two writers entered Merckx s hotel room and informed him that he had failed a doping control and was disqualified from the race in addition to being suspended for a month 65 On 14 June the cycling governing body the FICP overturned the month long suspension and cleared him due to the benefit of the doubt 66 nbsp The Velodrome Eddy Merckx at Mourenx was named in honor of Merckx in 1999 due to his efforts during the seventeenth stage at the 1969 Tour de France Before starting the Tour Merckx had spent a large amount of his time resting and training racing only five times 67 Merckx won the race s sixth stage through attacking before the leg s final major climb the Ballon d Alsace and then outlasting his competitors who were able to follow him initially 68 During the seventeenth stage Merckx was riding at the head of the race with several general classification contenders on the Col du Tourmalet 69 Merckx shifted into a large gear attacked and went on to cross the summit with a 45 second advantage 70 Despite orders to wait for the chasing riders Merckx increased his efforts 71 He rode over the Col du Soulor and Col d Aubisque increasing the gap to eight minutes 71 With close to fifty kilometers to go Merckx began to suffer hypoglycemia and rode the rest of the stage in severe pain 72 At the end of the stage Merckx told the journalists I hope I have done enough now for you to consider me a worthy winner 72 Merckx finished the race with six stage victories to his credit along with the general points mountains and combination classifications and the award for most aggressive rider 73 His next major race was the two day race Paris Luxembourg 74 Merckx was down fifty four seconds going into the second day and attacked eight kilometers from the finish on the slopes of the Bereldange 74 Merckx rode solo to catch the leading rider Jacques Anquetil whom he dropped with a kilometer remaining 75 Merckx won the stage and gained enough time on the race leader Gimondi to win the race 76 nbsp Fernand Wambst who was regarded as a great derny driver agreed to pace Merckx in the omnium events in Blois 77 On 9 September Merckx participated in a three round omnium event at the concrete velodrome in Blois where each rider was to be paced by a derny 78 77 Fernand Wambst was Merckx s pacer for the contest 77 After winning the first intermediate sprint of the first round Wambst chose to slow their pace and move to the back of the race despite Merckx wanting to stay out in front for fear of an accident 79 Wambst wanted to pass everyone to provide a show for the crowd 79 The duo then increased their pace and began to pass each of the other contestants 79 however as they passed the riders in first position the leading derny lost control and crashed into the wall 79 Wambst chose to avoid the derny by going below it but the leader s derny came back down and collided with Wambst while Merckx s pedal caught one of the dernies 80 The two riders landed head first onto the track 80 Wambst died of a fractured skull as he was being transported to a hospital 80 Merckx remained unconscious for 45 minutes and awoke in the operating room 80 He sustained a concussion whiplash trapped nerves in his back a displaced pelvis and several other cuts and bruises 81 He remained at the hospital for a week before returning to Belgium 81 He spent six weeks in bed before beginning to race again in October 81 Merckx later stated that he was never the same again after the crash 81 82 He would constantly adjust his seat during races to help ease the pain 83 Merckx stopped racing on 26 October to recuperate 84 1970 A Giro Tour double edit Merckx entered the 1970 campaign nursing a case of mild tendonitis in his knee 85 His first major victory came in Paris Nice where he won the general classification along with three stages 85 82 On 1 April Merckx won the Gent Wevelgem followed by the Tour of Belgium where he braved a snowy stage and followed the day up with a victory in the final time trial to secure the title and Paris Roubaix 86 82 In Paris Roubaix Merckx was battling a cold as the race began in heavy rain 85 He attacked thirty one kilometers from the finish and went on to win by five minutes and twenty one seconds the largest margin of victory in the history of the race 85 The next weekend Merckx attempted to race for teammate Joseph Bruyere in La Fleche Wallonne however Bruyere was unable to keep pace with the leading riders leaving Merckx to take the victory 87 nbsp After winning the fourteenth stage to the summit of Mont Ventoux during the 1970 Tour de France Merckx had to be given oxygen After the scandal at the previous year s Giro d Italia Merckx was unwilling to return to the race in 1970 87 His entry to the race was contingent upon all doping controls being sent to a lab in Rome to be tested rather than being tested at the finish like the year before 87 He started the race and won the second stage 82 but four days later showed signs of weakness with his knee as he was dropped twice while in the mountains 87 However the next day Merckx attacked on the final climb into the city of Brentonico to win the stage and take the lead 82 He won the stage nine individual time trial by almost two minutes over the second place finisher expanding his lead significantly 82 Merckx did not win another stage but expanded his lead a little more before the race s conclusion 82 Before beginning the Tour Merckx won the men s road race at the Belgian National Road Race Championships 88 Merckx won the Tour s opening prologue to take the race s first race leader s yellow jersey 88 89 After losing the lead following the second stage 88 89 he won the sixth stage after forming a breakaway with Lucien Van Impe and regained the lead 90 After expanding his lead in the stage nine individual time trial Merckx won the race s first true mountain stage stage 10 and expanded his lead to five minutes in the general classification 88 90 Merckx won three of the five stages contested within the next four days including a summit finish to Mont Ventoux where upon finishing he was given oxygen 91 92 Merckx won two more stages both individual time trials and won the Tour by over twelve minutes He finished the Tour with eight stage victories and won the mountains and combination classifications 88 92 The eight stage wins equaled the previous record for stage wins in a single Tour de France 88 93 Merckx also became the third to accomplish the feat of winning the Giro and Tour in the same calendar year 88 89 1971 1976 Molteni edit 1971 A third consecutive Tour and second world championship edit nbsp Spaniard Luis Ocana pictured at the 1973 Tour de France was one of Merckx s major rivals during the 1971 Tour de France Faema folded at the end of the 1970 season causing Merckx and several of his teammates to move to another Italian team Molteni 94 95 The first major victory for Merckx came in the Giro di Sardegna which he secured after attacking on his own and riding solo through the rain to win the race s final stage 94 He followed that with his third consecutive Paris Nice victory a race he led from start to finish 94 In the Milan San Remo Merckx worked with his teammates in a seven man breakaway to set up a final attack on the Poggio 94 Merckx s attack succeeded and he won his fourth edition of the race 94 Six days later he won the Omloop Het Volk 94 After winning the Tour of Belgium again Merckx headed into the major spring classics 96 During the Tour of Flanders Merckx s rivals worked against him to prevent him from winning 96 A week later he suffered five flat tires during the Paris Roubaix 96 The Liege Bastogne Liege was held in cold and rain conditions 96 After attacking ninety kilometers from the finish Merckx caught the leaders on the road and passed them 96 He rode solo until around three kilometers to go when Georges Pintens caught him 96 Merckx and Pintens rode to the finish together where Merckx won the two man sprint 97 Instead of racing the Giro d Italia Merckx elected to enter two shorter stages races in France the Grand Prix du Midi Libre and the Criterium du Dauphine both of which he won 97 The Tour de France began with a team time trial that Merckx s team won giving him the lead 98 The next day s racing was split into three parts 98 Merckx lost the lead after stage 1b but regained it after stage 1c due to a time bonus that he earned from winning an intermediate sprint 98 During the second stage a major break with the major race contenders including Merckx formed with over a hundred kilometers to go 99 The group finished nine minutes ahead of the peloton as Merckx came around Roger De Vlaeminck during the sprint to win the day 99 After a week of racing Merckx held a lead of around a minute over the main contenders 99 The eighth stage saw a mountain top finish to Puy de Dome 99 Bernard Thevenet attacked on the lower slopes and Merckx was unable to counter 99 Joop Zoetemelk and Luis Ocana went with Thevenet and wound up gaining fifteen seconds on Merckx 99 nbsp While descending the Col du Cucheron during the ninth stage of the 1971 Tour de France Merckx suffered a puncture Seeing this his rivals attacked and wound up gaining 1 30 on Merckx On the descent of the Col du Cucheron during the race s ninth leg Merckx s tire punctured prompting Ocana to attack with Zoetemelk Thevenet and Gosta Pettersson 100 The group of four finished a minute and a half ahead of Merckx giving Zoetemelk the lead 101 The following day Merckx lost eight minutes to Ocana after a poor showing due to stomach pains and indigestion 102 At the start of the eleventh stage Merckx three teammates and a couple of others formed a breakaway 103 Merckx s group finished two minutes in front of the peloton that was led by Ocana s Bic team 104 After winning the ensuing time trial Merckx took back eleven more seconds on Ocana 105 The race entered the Pyrenees with the first stage into Luchon being plagued by heavy thunderstorms that severely handicapped vision 106 On the descent of the Col de Mente Merckx crashed on a left bend 107 Ocana who was trailing crashed into the same bend and Zoetemelk collided with him 107 Merckx fell again on the descent and took the race lead as Ocana was forced to retire from the race due to injuries from the crash 108 Merckx declined to wear the yellow jersey the following day out of respect for Ocana 108 He won two more stages and the general points and combination classifications when the race finished in Paris 108 109 Seven weeks following the Tour Merckx entered the men s road race at the UCI Road World Championships that were held in Mendrisio Switzerland 110 The route for the day was rather hilly and consisted of several circuits 110 Merckx was a part of a five man breakaway as the race reached five laps to go 110 After attacking on the second to last stage Merckx and Gimondi reached the finish where Merckx won the race by four bike lengths 110 This earned him his second rainbow jersey 110 He closed out the 1971 calendar with his first victory in the Giro di Lombardia 110 This victory meant that Merckx had won all of cycling s Monuments 2 Merckx made the winning move when he attacked on the descent of the Intelvi Pass 110 During the off season Merckx had his displaced pelvis tended to by a doctor 111 1972 Breaking the hour record alongside a Giro Tour double edit nbsp Raymond Poulidor pictured at the 1966 Tour de France won Paris Nice after taking the lead away from Merckx in the race s final stage an individual time trial 112 Due to his non participation in track racing over the winter Merckx entered the 1972 campaign in poorer form than in previous years 111 In the Paris Nice Merckx broke a vertebra in a crash that occurred as the peloton was in the midst of a bunch sprint 111 Against the advice of a physician he started the next day being barely able to ride out of the saddle leading Ocana to attack him several times throughout the stage 111 In the race s fifth leg Merckx sprinted away from Ocana with 150 meters to go to win the day 112 Merckx lost the race lead in the final stage to Raymond Poulidor and finished in second place overall 112 Two days removed from Paris Nice Merckx was victorious for the fifth time at the Milan San Remo after he established a gap on the descent of the Poggio 112 In Paris Roubaix he crashed again further aggravating the injury he sustained from Paris Nice 113 He won Liege Bastogne Liege by making a solo move forty six kilometers from the finish 113 Three days later in La Fleche Wallonne Merckx was a part of a six man leading group as the race neared its conclusion 113 Merckx won the uphill sprint to the finish despite his derailleur shifting him to the wrong gear forcing him to ride in a larger gear than anticipated 114 He became the third rider to win La Fleche Wallonne and Liege Bastogne Liege in the same weekend 113 Despite a monetary offer from race organizers for Merckx to participate in the Vuelta a Espana he chose to take part in the Giro d Italia 112 Merckx lost over two and a half minutes to Spanish climber Jose Manuel Fuente after the Giro s fourth stage that contained a summit finish to Blockhaus 115 In the seventh stage Fuente had attacked on the first climb of the day the Valico di Monte Scuro 115 However Fuente cracked near the top of the climb allowing for Merckx and Pettersson to catch and pass him Merckx gained over four minutes on Fuente and became the new race leader 115 He expanded his lead by two minutes through the stage 12a and 12b time trials winning the former 116 Fuente got Merckx on his own as the two climbed together during the fourteenth stage 116 He and teammate Francisco Galdos attacked leaving Merckx behind 116 Merckx eventually reconnected with the two on the final climb of the stage 116 He proceeded to attack and went on to win the stage by forty seven seconds 116 He lost two minutes to Fuente due to stomach trouble during the seventeenth leg that finished atop the Stelvio Pass 116 but went on to win one more stage en route to his third victory at the Giro d Italia 117 Merckx entered the Tour de France in July where a battle between him and Ocana was expected by many 117 He took the opening prologue and expanded his advantage over all the other general classification contenders except Ocana by at least three minutes 118 Going into the Pyrenees Merckx led Ocana by fifty one seconds 119 The general classification favorites were riding together as the race hit the Col d Aubisque in the seventh leg 119 Ocana punctured on the climb allowing for the other riders to attack 119 Ocana chased after the group but crashed into a wall on the descent and went on to lose almost two minutes to Merckx 119 Merckx was criticized for attacking while Ocana had a flat but Merckx responded that the year before Ocana had done the same thing while the race was in the Alps 119 Merckx won the following stage regaining the lead which he had lost after the fourth leg 119 During the next two major mountain stages one to Mont Ventoux and the other to Orcieres he merely followed Ocana s wheel 120 He won three more stages before crossing the finish line in Paris as the race s winner 121 thus completing his second Giro Tour double in the process 122 nbsp Ernesto Colnago designed the bike Merckx used pictured during his hour record attempt to be similar to Merckx s track bike 123 The bike weighed 5 9 kilograms and saw two hundred hours put into its production 124 125 After initially planning to attempt to break the hour record in August Merckx decided to make the attempt in October after taking a ten day hiatus from criterium racing to heal and prepare 123 The attempt took place on 25 October in Mexico City Mexico at the outdoor track Agustin Melgar 126 Mexico was chosen due to the higher altitude as this led to less air resistance 126 He arrived in Mexico on the 21st to prepare for his attempt but two days were lost due to rain 124 His attempt started at 8 46 am local time and saw him finish the first ten kilometers twenty eight seconds faster than the record pace 127 However Merckx started off too fast and began to fade as the attempt wore on 128 He eventually was able to recover and posted a distance of 49 431 km 31 mi breaking the world record 129 23 130 After finishing he was carried off and was quoted saying the pain was very very very significant 129 1973 A Giro Vuelta double edit An illness prevented Merckx from taking part in the Milan San Remo at the start of the 1973 calendar 131 During a span of nineteen days Merckx won four classics including Omloop Het Volk Liege Bastogne Liege and Paris Roubaix 131 He decided to race the Vuelta a Espana and the Giro d Italia instead of racing the Tour de France 131 He won the opening prologue of the Vuelta to take an early lead 131 Despite Ocana s best efforts Merckx won a total of six stages on his way to his only Vuelta a Espana title 131 In addition to the general classification Merckx won the race s points classification and combination classifications 131 Four days after the conclusion of the Vuelta Merckx lined up to start the Giro d Italia 132 He won the opening two man time trial with Roger Swerts and the next day s leg as well 133 Merckx s primary competitor Fuente lost a significant amount of time during the second stage 132 He won the eighth stage which featured a summit finish to Monte Carpegna despite Fuente attacking several times on the ascent 133 Fuente tried attacking throughout the rest of the race but was only able to make time gains on the race s penultimate stage 133 Merckx won the race after leading from start to finish a feat only previously accomplished by Alfredo Binda and Costante Girardengo 133 He also became the first rider to win the Giro and Vuelta in the same calendar year 133 nbsp Felice Gimondi pictured in 1966 won the men s road race at the 1973 UCI Road World Championships ahead of Merckx who was unable to contest the final sprint to the line finishing last out of the leading group of four The UCI Road World Championships were held in Barcelona Spain in 1973 and contested on the Montjuich circuit 134 During the road race Merckx attacked with around one hundred kilometers left 134 His move was marked by Freddy Maertens Gimondi and Ocana 135 Merckx attacked on the final lap but was reeled in by the three riders 136 It came down to a sprint between the four of which Merckx came in last and Gimondi in first 136 Following the road race Merckx won his first Paris Brussels and Grand Prix des Nations 137 He won both legs of A travers Lausanne as well as the Giro di Lombardia but a doping positive disqualified him 137 He closed the season with over fifty victories to his credit 137 1974 Completion of cycling s Triple Crown edit The 1974 season saw Merckx fail to win a spring classic for the first time in his career in part due to him suffering from various illnesses during the early months 138 Pneumonia forced him to quit racing for a month and forced him to enter the Giro d Italia in poor form 139 He lost time early in the race to Fuente who took the race s first mountainous stage 139 Merckx gained time on Fuente in the race s only time trial 139 Merckx attacked from two hundred kilometers out two days later in a stage that was plagued by horrendous weather 139 Fuente lost ten minutes to Merckx who became the race leader 139 The twentieth stage had a summit finish to Tre Cime di Lavaredo 140 Fuente and Gianbattista Baronchelli attacked on the climb while Merckx was unable to match their accelerations 140 He finished the stage only to see his lead shrink to twelve seconds over Baronchelli 140 He held on to that lead until the race s conclusion winning his fifth Giro d Italia 140 Three days following his victory at the Giro Merckx started the Tour de Suisse 141 He won the race s prologue and rode conservatively for the rest of the race 141 He took the final leg an individual time trial to seal his overall victory 141 After finishing the race Merckx had a sebaceous cyst removed on 22 June 141 Five days following the surgery he was scheduled to begin the Tour de France 141 The wound was still slightly open when he began the Grand Tour and it bled throughout the race 141 At the Tour Merckx won the race s prologue giving him the first race leader s maillot jaune English yellow jersey 141 which he lost the next day to teammate Joseph Bruyere 142 He won the seventh stage of the race and regained the lead through attacking in the closing kilometers and holding off the chasing peloton 142 He put five minutes into Poulidor his main rival after dropping him on the Col du Galibier 143 The next day on the slopes of Mont Ventoux Merckx rode to limit his losses after suffering several attacks from other general classification riders including Poulidor Vicente Lopez Carril and Gonzalo Aja 143 He expanded his lead through several stage victories afterward including one where he attacked with ten kilometers to go in a flat stage and held off the peloton to reach the finish in Orleans almost a minute and a half before the chasing group 144 Merckx finished the Tour with eight stage wins and his fifth Tour de France victory equaling the record of Anquetil 144 nbsp With his victory in the men s road race at the 1974 UCI Road World Championships and his victories in two Grand Tours the Giro and Tour Merckx became the first rider to win the Triple Crown of Cycling Going into the men s road race at the UCI Road World Championships Merckx anchored a squad that included Van Springel Maertens and De Vlaeminck 145 The route featured twenty one laps of a circuit that contained two climbs 145 Merckx and Poulidor attacked with around seven kilometers to go after catching the leading breakaway 145 The two rode to the finish together where Merckx won the sprint to the line establishing a two second gap between himself and Poulidor 146 By winning the road race Merckx became the first rider to win the Triple Crown of Cycling which consists of winning the Tour de France Giro d Italia and men s road race at the World Championships in one calendar year 147 148 It was also his third world title becoming the third rider to ever be world champion three times after Binda and Rik Van Steenbergen 149 1975 Second place at the Tour edit With victories at Milan San Remo and Amstel Gold Race Merckx opened the 1975 season in good form also winning the Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme 149 In the Catalan Week Merckx lost his super domestique Bruyere who had helped Merckx to victory in years past many times to a broken leg 149 Two days following the Catalan Week Merckx participated in the Tour of Flanders 149 He launched an attacked with eighty kilometers to go with only Frans Verbeeck being able to match his acceleration 150 Verbeeck was dropped as the race reached five kilometers remaining allowing Merckx to take his third Tour of Flanders victory 150 In Paris Roubaix Merckx suffered a flat tire with around eighty kilometers left when a part of a leading group of four 150 After chasing for three kilometers he caught the three other riders and the group rode into the finish together De Vlaeminck won the day 150 Merckx won his fifth Liege Bastogne Liege by attacking several times in the closing portions of the race 150 Merckx s attitude while racing had changed riders expected him to chase down attacks which angered him 151 Notably in the Tour de Romandie he was riding with race leader Zoetemelk as an attack occurred 152 Merckx refused to chase the break down and the two lost fourteen minutes 152 Merckx contracted a cold and later tonsilitis while racing in the spring campaign 153 This caused him to be in poor form forcing him to not participate in the Giro d Italia 153 He then rode in the Dauphine Libere and was not on par with Thevenet who won the race 153 At the Tour de Suisse De Vlaeminck won the race as a whole while Merckx finished second 153 nbsp Merckx crossing the finish line to win the 1975 Amstel Gold RaceHe placed second in the Tour de France s prologue 154 The following morning s split stage saw Merckx put time on Thevenet by attacking with Francesco Moser Van Impe and Zoetemelk 154 In day s second leg Merckx gained time on Zoetemelk 154 He won the stage six individual time trial and gaining more time on Thevenet and Zoetemelk 154 He won the next time trial into Auch as well 155 During the race s eleventh stage Merckx sent his team to set the pace early on in the stage 155 Reaching the final climb of the day Merckx was on his own as his team had been used to set the pace throughout the day 155 On the day s final climb to Pla d Adet he matched an acceleration by Zoetemelk 155 Thevenet then launched an attack to which Merckx could not follow and saw him lose over two minutes 155 After the stage Merckx switched decided to mark Thevenet for the rest of the race and make an attack on the Puy de Dome 155 While climbing the Puy de Dome Thevenet and Van Impe attacked 155 Merckx followed at his own pace and kept the two riders within a hundred meters 156 With about 150 m remaining Merckx was prepared to sprint to the line but was punched in the back by a spectator Nello Breton 156 He crossed the line thirty four seconds behind Thevenet and proceeded to vomit after catching his breath 156 The punch left him with a large bruise 156 During the rest day he was found to have an inflamed liver for which he was prescribed blood thinners 156 The stage following the rest day featured five climbs Merckx felt a pain on the third climb in the area of the punch and had a teammate get him an analgesic 157 Thevenet attacked several times on the climb of the Col des Champs all of which Merckx countered 158 Merckx retaliated by speeding away on the descent 158 On the start of the next climb Merckx had his Molteni teammates set the pace and he distanced himself from his competitors before the start of the final climb 158 However as Merckx began the final climb he cracked Thevenet caught and passed him with four kilometers left 159 Gimondi Van Impe and Zoetemelk passed Merckx who finished fifth and one minute and twenty six seconds down 160 The following day Merckx caught up with the leading breakaway and wanted to push ahead but the riders chose not to participate in the pace making leading Merckx to sit up and get caught 161 He lost two more minutes to Thevenet who attacked on the Col d Izoard 161 He crashed in the next leg breaking a cheekbone and gained some time on Thevenet before the finish in Paris 162 He finished in second place the first time he had lost a Tour in his six starts 163 1976 A record seventh Milan San Remo edit He opened his 1976 season with his record seventh victory in Milan San Remo 164 He followed with a victory in the Catalan Week but suffered a crash in the final stage when a spectator s bag caught his handlebars injuring his elbow 164 This injury plagued his performance throughout the spring classic season 164 He entered the Giro d Italia but failed to win a stage for the first time in his career 164 He finished the race in eighth overall while battling a saddle boil throughout the race 164 Following the Giro s conclusion Merckx announced that he and his team Molteni would not take part in the Tour de France 165 He took part in the men s road race at the UCI Road World Championships and finished in fifth position 165 He ended his season in October after racing for most of August 165 He failed to win the Super Prestige Pernod International a competition where riders were awarded points for their placements in certain professional races for the first time since 1968 165 In the first two months of his off season Merckx spent the majority of his time lying down 165 Molteni ended their sponsorship at the end of the season 165 1977 1978 Fiat France and C amp A edit nbsp Raphael Geminiani pictured during the 1954 Tour de France became Merckx s new team manager with Fiat France for the 1977 season Fiat France became the new sponsor for Merckx s team and Raphael Geminiani the new manager 166 He got his season s first victories in the Grand Prix d Aix and Tour Mediterraneen 167 Merckx agreed to ride a light spring season in order to save himself for a chance at a sixth Tour victory 168 He took one stage at the Paris Nice but had to withdraw from the race s final stage due to sinusitis 167 In the spring classics Merckx did not win any races with his best finish being a sixth place in the Liege Bastogne Liege 167 Before the Tour Merckx raced both the Dauphine Libere and Tour de Suisse winning one stage of the latter 167 He admitted his poor form and anxiety about aggravating previous injuries going into the Tour de France 169 He held on to second place overall for two weeks 169 As the race entered the Alps Merckx began to lose more time he lost thirteen minutes on the stage to Alpe d Huez alone 169 On the stage into Saint Etienne Merckx attacked and gained enough time to move into sixth overall he finished the Tour in the same position 170 In the time following the Tour Merckx raced twenty two races in a span of forty days before coming in thirty third at the UCI Road World Championships men s road race 171 Merckx earned his final victory on the road on 17 September in a kermis race 171 In late December Fiat France chose to end their sponsorship of Merckx in favor of building a more French centered squad 172 In January the department store C amp A announced that they would sponsor a new team for Merckx after their owner met Merckx at a football game 172 His plan for the season was to race one last Tour de France and then ride several smaller races for appearances 173 He raced a total of five races in the 1978 calendar 174 His last victory was in a track event an omnium in Zurich on 10 February 1978 with Patrick Sercu 175 His first road race came in the Grand Prix de Montauroux on 19 February 174 Merckx came to the front of the race and put in a large effort before swinging off and quitting the race 172 His best finish came in the Tour de Haut where he managed fifth 172 He dropped out of Omloop Het Volk due to colitis and completed his final race on 19 March a kermis in Kemzeke 172 Following the race Merckx went on a vacation to go skiing 172 He returned from travel to train more but by this point the team sponsor knew he was going to quit 172 Merckx announced his retirement from the sport on 18 May 172 He stated that the doctors advised him against racing 176 Retirement editMain article Eddy Merckx Cycles nbsp nbsp Eddy Merckx Cycles factory pictured left opened in 1980 and soon began producing bikes that were used by several professional cycling teams a 1989 model used by 7 Eleven pictured right in the last two decades of the 20th century Following his exit from racing Merckx opened up Eddy Merckx Cycles on 28 March 1980 in Brussels 177 The initial workers that were hired for the factory were trained by Ugo De Rosa a notable bike maker before starting 178 The company almost went bankrupt at one point and was also caught up in a tax repayment controversy 178 Merckx would spend time giving input on the models as they were being produced 177 179 Despite the financial problems the brand became highly regarded and successful being used by several top level cycling teams in the 1980s and 1990s 180 Merckx stepped down as CEO in 2008 and sold most of his shares 181 but still tests the bikes that are created and has some input 179 Cycling journalist Sam Dansie believes that Eddy Merckx Cycles has maintained a presence as an elite bicycle due to its adoption of new methods over time 179 As of January 2015 the business is still based in Belgium and distributes to over twenty five countries 182 Merckx managed the Belgian national team world championships for eleven years between 1986 and 1996 183 He acted as the race director for the Tour of Flanders for a brief period of time 183 He temporarily sponsored a youth developmental team with CGER Bank a team that featured his son Axel 181 He helped organize the Grand Prix Eddy Merckx which started out as an invitation only individual time trial event later becoming a two man time trial event 181 The event folded after 2004 due to riders lack of interest 181 He played a pivotal role in getting the Tour of Qatar started in 2002 184 In 2001 Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani the former Emir of Qatar reached out to Merckx and told him of his interest in starting a bicycle race to show off his country 184 Merckx then contacted then Union Cycliste Internationale UCI president Hein Verbruggen who checked out Qatar s roads 184 Following a successful inspection Merckx contacted the Amaury Sport Organisation about working with him planning the race they agreed in 2001 184 Merckx officially co owned the race with Dirk De Pauw and helped organize it until the race was cancelled before the 2017 edition due to financial reasons 184 185 186 In addition Merckx also helped Qatar secure the right to host the 2016 UCI Road World Championships as well as designing the race route for the road race 184 185 186 Merckx briefly co owned and helped start the Tour of Oman in 2010 187 In 2015 Merckx said later that although he was not racing he knew would still be involved with the sport as a bike builder first in the factory and now as an ambassador 188 In November 2017 it was announced that Merckx and his partner Dirk De Pauw split with Tour of Oman organizer ASO following an undisclosed dispute 186 Personal life edit nbsp Eddy Merckx during an interview in 2010Merckx officially began dating Claudine Acou in April 1965 189 Acou was a 21 year old teacher and daughter of the trainer of the national amateur team 190 Merckx asked her father for permission to marry her between track races 189 On 5 December 1967 Merckx married Acou after four years of courtship 189 190 191 She would often handle the press for her husband who was shy 192 Acou gave birth to their first child Sabrina on 14 February 1970 85 Merckx skipped a team training camp to be with his wife for Sabrina s birth 85 Acou later gave birth to a son Axel who also became a professional cyclist 193 194 181 Merckx was brought up speaking Flemish but was taught French in school 194 In 1996 Albert II of Belgium King of the Belgians gave him the title of baron 193 195 In Italy Merckx was given the title of Cavaliere 195 In 2011 he was named Commandeur de la Legion d honneur by then French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris 195 196 Merckx has become an ambassador for the Damien The Leper Society a foundation named after a Catholic priest which battles leprosy and other diseases in developing countries 197 He was blessed by Pope John Paul II in Brussels in the 1990s 197 Merckx is an art lover and stated that his favorite artist is Rene Magritte a surrealist 30 Salvador Dali is another of his favorites 30 Before starting the third stage of the 1968 Giro d Italia 198 Merckx was found to have a heart condition 199 A cardiologist Giancarlo Lavezzaro found that Merckx had non obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy a disease that has killed several young athletes 198 199 In 2013 Merckx was given a pacemaker to help correct a heart rhythm issue 199 The surgery was performed in Genk on 21 March and done as a preventative procedure 199 Merckx stated that he never had any heart issues while racing despite the fact that several males in his family died young of heart related problems 198 199 In May 2004 he had an esophagus operation to cure stomach aches suffered since he was young 200 In August he reported that he lost nearly 30 kg after the procedure 200 On 13 October 2019 Merckx was hospitalised after a cycling accident having suffered a haemorrhage and being unconscious for a while He was released a week later 201 Career achievements editMain article List of career achievements by Eddy MerckxLegacy edit nbsp Merckx pictured in August 1973 was a successful cyclist on the road and on the track with a record of 525 victories to his credit over the course of his career Merckx has been regarded by many as the greatest and most successful cyclist of all time 3 25 202 130 203 204 He rode well in the Grand Tours and in the one day classics 205 He was a very good time trialist and climber 2 202 203 In addition Merckx showed great ability to race on the track 203 He was known for racing style that consisted of attacking constantly which came to be known as la course en tete the race in the lead for which the documentary on Merckx La Course en Tete which also has the double meaning of the race in your head was named 206 N 1 Attacking for Merckx was the best form of defence 207 He would spend a day in a breakaway and then make another significant attack the following day 208 Despite his constant attacking he would occasionally ride in a defensive mindset particularly when racing the Giro and facing Fuente 209 Merckx entered over 1 800 races during his career and won a total of 525 3 148 203 205 210 Due to his dominance in the sport some cycling historians refer to the period in which he raced as the Merckx Era 95 During his professional career he won 445 of the 1585 races he entered 25 Between the years of 1967 and 1977 Merckx raced between 111 and 151 races each season 211 In 1971 he raced 120 times and won 54 of the events 95 the most races any cyclist has won in a season Merckx admits that he was the best of his generation but insists it s not practical to compare across generations 204 Given the grown internationalization and specialization in cycling nowadays Merckx s number of road race victories will most likely never be surpassed in the future Merckx is one of the three riders to win all five Monuments of Cycling i e Milan San Remo Tour of Flanders Paris Roubaix Liege Bastogne Liege and the Giro di Lombardia the other two being Rik Van Looy and Roger De Vlaeminck 2 202 He finished his career with nineteen victories across the monuments more than any other rider and eight more than the rider with the second most 2 202 148 He won twenty eight classic races 203 with Paris Tours being the only race he did not win The closest he came to victory in the race was sixth in the 1973 race A lesser Belgian rider Noel van Tyghem won Paris Tours in 1972 212 and said Between us I and Eddy Merckx have won every classic that can be won I won Paris Tours Merckx won all the rest 213 One takes Merckx s legs Merckx s head Merckx s muscles Merckx s heart and Merckx s zeal for victory Bernard Hinault when asked to describe the ideal cyclist 214 While racing he became the third rider to win all three Grand Tours in his career a feat that has since been accomplished by more riders 202 205 He holds the record for most Grand Tour victories with 11 along with the record for most stage wins across all three Grand Tours with 64 210 He has completed the most Giro Tour doubles in history with three 205 210 He was the first rider to win cycling s Triple Crown which has only been accomplished one other time by Stephen Roche in 1987 2 202 203 He is the only rider to win the general points and mountains classifications at the Giro d Italia in 1968 and at the Tour de France in 1969 202 Since then the general points and mountains classifications have been won at the Vuelta a Espana by Tony Rominger in 1993 and by Laurent Jalabert in 1995 202 He shares the record for most victories at both the Giro d Italia and Tour de France with five wins at each 95 130 In those races he also holds the records for days spent in the race leader s jersey at 78 and 96 respectively 130 215 For his career successes in the Giro d Italia Merckx became the first rider inducted into the race s Hall of Fame in 2012 215 216 When being inducted Merckx was given the modern day trophy with the winners engraved until 1974 the last year he won the race 215 216 At the Tour he shares the record for most stage wins in its history with thirty four 203 210 217 The Grand Depart for the 2019 Tour de France was held in Brussels Belgium to honor Merckx s first Tour de France win in 1969 218 219 He was given the nickname The Cannibal by the daughter of Christian Raymond a teammate of Merckx s 204 220 Raymond had commented on Merckx not allowing anyone else to win to which his daughter referred to Merckx as a cannibal 220 204 Raymond liked the nickname and then mentioned it to the press 220 In Italy he was known as il mostro the Monster 221 Dutch cyclist Joop Zoetemelk said First there was Merckx and then another classification began behind him 25 Cycling journalist and commentator Phil Liggett wrote that if Merckx started a race many riders acknowledged that they likely would be competing for second place 222 Ted Costantino wrote that Merckx was undoubtedly the number one cyclist of all time whereas in other sports there are debates that go on about who is actually the greatest of all time 25 Gianni Motta told of how Merckx would ride without a racing cape when it was snowing or raining in order to go faster than other riders 223 Even after his retirement many subsequent stars still feel overshadowed by his fame and race results Merckx befriended Fiorenzo Magni when he began racing for an Italian team 224 He was criticized by opposing riders for his relentless pursuit of victory that prevented even lesser known riders from collecting a few victories 225 When told that he won too much Merckx stated that The day when I start a race without intending to win it I won t be able to look at myself in the mirror 226 Records Overview edit Grand Tours edit nbsp Eddy Merckx in the 1970 Tour de France Most Grand Tour wins 11 Most consecutive Grand Tours wins 4 in 1972 Giro d Italia 1972 Tour de France 1973 Vuelta a Espana amp 1973 Giro d Italia Most Grand Tour stage wins 64 Most Tour de France wins 5 in 1969 1970 1971 1972 amp 1974 record shared with Bernard Hinault Jacques Anquetil and Miguel Indurain Most Tour de France stage wins 34 record shared with Mark Cavendish Most stage wins in 1 Tour de France 8 in 1970 record shared with Charles Pelissier and Freddy Maertens Most days in Tour de France yellow jersey nbsp 96 Winner of all 3 specialties in 1 Tour de France mountain sprint and individual time trial in 1974 record shared with Bernard Hinault and Wout van Aert The only general points and mountains classification winner in the Tour de France 1969 Most Tour de France combativity awards nbsp 4 in 1969 1970 1974 amp 1975 Most Giro d Italia wins 5 in 1968 1970 1972 1973 amp 1974 record shared with Alfredo Binda and Fausto Coppi Most days in Giro d Italia pink jersey nbsp 78 The only general points and mountains classification winner in the Giro d Italia 1968Classic races edit Winner of all 5 Monuments of Cycling record shared with Rik Van Looy and Roger De Vlaeminck Most victories in all Monuments 19 The only winner of 3 Monuments in 1 year 4 times in 1969 1971 1972 amp 1975 The only cyclist to win all 5 Monuments more than once Most victories in classic races 28 Most victories in a single classic 7 in Milan San Remo 1966 1967 1969 1971 1972 1975 amp 1976 Most Liege Bastogne Liege wins 5 in 1969 1971 1972 1973 amp 1975 Most Gent Wevelgem wins 3 in 1967 1970 amp 1973 shared record Other edit nbsp Merckx celebrating his first UCI world title in 1967 Most road races won by a professional cyclist 525 Most road races won in 1 season 54 of 120 entries in 1971 UCI World hour record nbsp 1972 Most UCI World Road Championships nbsp 3 in 1967 1971 amp 1974 record shared with Alfredo Binda Rik Van Steenbergen oscar Freire and Peter Sagan Triple Crown of Cycling winner 1974 record shared with Stephen Roche Monument winner Grand Tour winner and UCI World Champion in 1 year 1971 record shared with Alfredo Binda Bernard Hinault and Remco Evenepoel Most Super Prestige Pernod wins 7 in 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 amp 1975 Most Escalada a Montjuic wins 6 in 1966 1970 1971 1972 1974 amp 1975 Most Giro di Sardegna wins 4 in 1968 1971 1973 amp 1975 Most Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme wins 2 in 1975 and 1976 shared record World hour record edit Discipline Record Date Event Velodrome RefHour record 49 431 km 25 October 1972 Agustin Melgar Olympic Velodrome Mexico City 227 Doping edit nbsp Merckx pictured during at 1969 Six Days of Milan was involved in three separate doping incidents during his career Merckx was leading the 1969 Giro d Italia upon the conclusion of the sixteenth stage in Savona 228 229 230 After the stage Merckx went to the mobile lab that traveled with the race and conducted the drug tests 231 N 2 Merckx s first test came up positive for fencamfamine an amphetamine 228 229 230 231 A second test was conducted and also came up positive 229 230 231 Controversially the results of the test were announced to the press before Merckx and his team were informed 232 The positive test meant Merckx was to be suspended for a month 233 Race director Vincenzo Torriani delayed the start of the seventeenth stage in an attempt to persuade the president of the Italian Cycling Federation to allow Merckx to begin the stage 230 However the president was not in his office and Torriani was forced to start the stage disqualifying Merckx in the process 230 In the succeeding days the UCI removed the suspension put in place 229 230 From the start Merckx claimed his innocence saying that I am a clean rider I do not need to take anything to win Prior Merckx was tested 8 times negative in this Giro 234 The major part of the international press believed in Merckx innocence stating that with his lead it was illogical that he would use banned substances in an easy stage moreover knowing a doping test was likely to follow being the leader 235 He maintains that his samples were mishandled 229 230 236 After the incident several conspiracy theories emerged including the urine that tested positive was not Merckx s 237 and Merckx had been given a water bottle with the stimulant in it 238 All moves to give Italian Felice Gimondi a better chance at victory 239 238 232 On 8 November 1973 it was announced that Merckx had tested positive for norephedrine after winning the Giro di Lombardia a month earlier 240 241 Upon learning of the first test being positive in later October he had a counter analysis performed which also turned up positive 240 The drug was present in a cough medicine that the Molteni doctor Dr Cavalli prescribed to him 240 Merckx was disqualified from the race and the victory was awarded to second place finisher Gimondi 240 241 242 In addition Merckx was given a month suspension and fined 150 000 lira 240 241 Merckx admitted his fault in taking the medicine but said that the name norephedrine was not on the bottle of cough syrup he used 240 Norephedrine was later removed from the WADA list of banned substances 243 On 8 May 1977 Merckx along with several other riders tested positive for pemoline a stimulant in Stimul at La Fleche Wallonne 244 245 246 247 248 The group of riders was charged by the Belgian cycling federation and the riders were each given a 24 000 pesetas fine and a one month suspension 248 Initially Merckx announced his intention to appeal the penalty saying he only took substances that were not on the banned list 248 Merckx s 8th place finish in the race was voided Years later Merckx admitted he did take a banned substance citing that he was wrong to have trusted a doctor Due to Merckx s positive tests during his career he was asked by the event organizers to stay away from the 2007 UCI Road World Championships in Stuttgart Germany 249 The organizers stated that they had to be role models while Merckx wrote them off claiming them to be crazy 249 Merckx was not alone as several other riders were asked to keep their distance from the event 249 Honours and awards editTitles of honour edit nbsp Knight of the French Legion of Honour 1975 nbsp Officer in the Belgian Order of Leopold II 1996 250 nbsp Commander of the French Legion of Honour 2014 251 nbsp Knight in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic nbsp Silver Olympic Order 1995 252 Created Baron Merckx by Royal Decree with devise Post Proelia Praemia 1996 Honorary doctorate of the university VUB 2011 253 BOIC Order of Merit 2013 254 Merckx is honorary citizen of Meise Tielt Winge and Tervuren 255 256 257 Sport awards and honours edit Belgian National Sports Merit Award 1967 258 Belgian Sportsman of the Year 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 259 Tour de France Overall Combativity award 1969 1970 1974 1975 Tour de France Stage Combativity award 14 4 in 1975 3 in 1970 2 in 1969 1974 amp 1977 1 in 1971 PAP European Sportsperson of the Year 1969 1970 258 Worldwide Sportsman of the Year 1969 1971 1974 258 Grand Prix de l Academie des Sport fr 1969 Mendrisio d Or fr 1972 2011 Gan Challenge 1973 1974 1975 260 Swiss AIOCC Trophy fr 1980 2021 261 Procyclingstats com All Time Wins Ranking 1st place 283 wins 262 Belgian Sportsman of the 20th Century 1999 263 Reuters Worldwide Sports Personality of the Century 7th place 1999 264 Reuters General Sportsman of the Century 2nd place 1999 265 UCI Cyclist of the 20th Century 2000 266 Marca Legend 2000 267 Vincenzo Torriani Award 2001 268 Introduced in the UCI Hall of Fame 2002 UCI Top 100 of All Time 1st place 24 510 points Memoire du Cyclisme Ranking of the Greatest Cyclists 1st place 2002 269 Bronzen Zinneke 2006 270 Bleacher Report The 30 Most Dominant Athletes of All Time 20th 2010 271 Bleacher Report Tour de France All Time Top 25 Riders 1st place 2011 272 Italian Sport and Civilization Award 2011 273 First Member Giro Hall of Fame 2012 274 Topito Top 15 Greatest Cyclists Ever 1st place 2012 275 L Equipe Trophee Champion des Champions de Legende 2014 276 Rouleur Hall of Fame 2018 277 Velonews The Greatest Cyclists of All Time 1st place 2019 278 Wiggle The Best Cyclists Ever Rank 1st place 2020 279 Eurosport Greatest General Classification Cyclist of all Time 2020 280 CyclingRanking Overal Ranking 1st place 2022 281 Velo d Or honorary award 2023 282 Places and statues edit nbsp Eddy Merckx Monument in MeiseMonument in Stavelot 1993 283 Velodrome Eddy Merckx Mourenx 1999 284 Eddy Merckx metro station Brussels 2003 285 Vlaams Wielercentrum Eddy Merckx nl Gent 2006 286 Momument in Meise 2015 287 Statue in Meensel Kiezegem 2015 288 Square Eddy Merckx in Sint Pieters Woluwe 2019 289 Events and awards edit Golden Bike Eddy Merckx a race for novices from 1983 to 2008 290 Grand Prix Eddy Merckx 291 Chiba Alpencup de Eddy Merckx Classics 292 Start of the 2019 Tour de France in Brussels in honour of Eddy Merckx 293 From 2023 the Velo d Or Eddy Merckx trophy is awarded for the best classics cyclist 294 Popular culture edit nbsp Merckx on a 1969 Stamp of AjmanMusic edit The single Vas Y Eddy 1967 by Jean Saint Paul is notable for being the first recorded song about Merckx Eddy Prend Le Maillot Jaune a song by Pierre Andre Gil was released after his first Tour de France victory The single Bravo Eddy by Jean Narcy was released in 1970 Eddy Est Imbattable by Pierre Andre Gil was released in 1971 Merckx is mentioned in the 1974 song Paris New York New York Paris by Jacques Higelin Eddy Merckx is a song by the Belgian band Sttellla on the album Il faut tourner l Apache in 1998 He is quoted in Mysa s 2009 rap song Monde Sale everything is fake ask Eddy Merckx 10 Speed Cannibal a song by the band CroMoly was released in 2011Films and series edit A 1973 Danish short film was made Eddy Merckx in the Vicinity of a Cup of Coffee starring Merckx and Walter Godefroot In the 1973 comedy film The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob Merckx was cited by Louis de Funes as the author of Che Guevara s famous quote The revolution is like a bicycle when it doesn t move forward it falls The 1974 documentary film La Course en Tete by Joel Santoni looks at the racing and private life of Merckx The 1976 Danish documentary film A Sunday in Hell focuses on the contenders Merckx Roger De Vlaeminck Freddy Maertens and Francesco Moser in the Paris Roubaix race of that year Merckx has a cameo in the 1985 sports drama film American Flyers starring Kevin Costner Merckx is the rival more or less fantasized of Benoit Poelvoorde in the 2001 film Le Velo de Ghislain Lambert by Philippe Harel In 2005 he appears in episode 39b of the second season of Space Goofs where his character provides the Earth s core with energy pedalling a stationary bike Merckx has a cameo in the 2012 French Belgian comedy film Torpedo by Matthieu Donck The Flemish movie set in the seventies Allez Eddy was released in 2012 Eddy Merckx is the subject of an autobiographical fiction written by Christophe Van Staen entitled Eddy Merckx Nobel Prize Lamiroy 2019 Comic books edit Les Fabuleux Exploits d Eddy Merckx a celebrity comic was released in 1973 It was translated in different languages Eddy Merckx appears in the comic strip San Antonio Fait un Tour published by Fleuve Noir in 1973 He appears as a speedy messenger in the comic book Asterix in Belgium of the Asterix series by Rene Goscinny and Albert Uderzo published in 1979 A tribute to Eddy Merckx is paid in the 1987 Boule et Bill album nr 24 Billets de Bill Another tribute is paid in one of the adventures of Donald Duck who must compete against the champion of his uncle s rival Dydy Berkxz Books editIn English edit The Champion Eddy Merckx by Claude le Boul in 1987 Ludion 71 p Collected paintings English Dutch French Eddy Merckx The Greatest Cyclist of the 20th Century by Rik Vanwalleghem and Steven Hawkins in 1996 VeloPress 216 p English ISBN 9781884737725 Thorne Brian Lambers Elke 1998 Person Centred Therapy A European Perspective SAGE ISBN 978 0 7619 5155 1 Liggett Phil Raia James Lewis Sammarye 27 May 2005 Tour De France For Dummies John Wiley amp Sons ISBN 978 0 7645 8449 7 Foot John 3 May 2011 Pedalare Pedalare A amp C Black ISBN 978 1 4088 1755 1 Heijmans Jeroen Mallon Bill 9 September 2011 Historical Dictionary of Cycling Scarecrow Press ISBN 978 0 8108 7369 8 Friebe Daniel 2012 Eddy Merckx The Cannibal Ebury Press ISBN 978 0 09 194314 1 Eddy Merckx 525 by Frederik Backelandt amp Karl Vannieuwkerke in 2012 Kannibaal 224 p English Dutch ISBN 9781934030899 Nauright John Parrish Charles 2012 Sports Around the World History Culture and Practice ABC CLIO ISBN 978 1 59884 300 2 Fotheringham William 2012 Merckx Half Man Half Bike Yellow Jersey Press ISBN 978 0 224 09195 4 Fotheringham William 1 April 2013 Half Man Half Bike The Life of Eddy Merckx Cycling s Greatest Champion Chicago Review Press ISBN 978 1 61374 729 2 Moore Richard Benson Daniel 2013 The racing bicycle design function speed Foreword by Robert Penn New York Universe ISBN 9780789324658 Merckx 69 Celebrating the World s Greatest Cyclist in his Finest Year by Tonny Strouken and Jan Maes in 2015 Bloomsbury Publishing 180 p English Dutch French ISBN 9781472910646 The Dream of Eddy Merckx by Freddy Merckx in 2019 Sportliteratuur Uitgeverij 56 p English Dutch French ISBN 9781513646121 De Rivals of Merckx by Filip Osselaer in 2019 Borgerhoff amp Lamberigts 208 p English Dutch French ISBN 9789089319852 1969 The Year of Eddy Merckx by Johny Vansevenant in 2019 Lannoo 432 p English Dutch French ISBN 9789401462860 295 In other languages edit Eddy Merckx by Louis Clicteur amp Lucien Berghmans in 1967 164 p Dutch Mijn Wegjournaal by Louis Clicteur in 1971 176 p Dutch Eddy Merckx Story by Jan Cornand in 1978 111 p Dutch Eddy Merckx Mijn Levensverhaal by Robert Janssens in 1989 208 p Dutch ISBN 9789028914650 Eddy Merckx De Mens achter de Kannibaal by Rik Vanwalleghem in 1993 216 p Dutch French ISBN 9789073322059 Spraakmakende biografie van Eddy Merckx by Philippe Brunel in 2005 192 p Dutch De Mannen achter Merckx het Verhaal van Faema en Molteni by Patrick Cornillie and Johny Vansevenant in 2006 304 p Dutch French ISBN 90 77562 28 1 Fietspassie La Passion du Velo by Toon Claes and Eddy Merckx in 2008 196 p Dutch French ISBN 9789086792047 De Zomer van 69 hoe Merckx won van Armstrong by Patrick Cornillie in 2009 343 p Dutch ISBN 9789086792023 Merckxissimo by Karl Vannieuwkerke amp Stephan Vanfleteren in 2009 144 p Dutch French ISBN 978 90 8138 940 2 Eddy Merckx en Ik Herinneringen aan de Kannibaal by Stefaan Van Laere in 2010 184 p Dutch Eddy Merckx Getuigenissen van Jan Wauters by Jan Wauters in 2010 176 p Dutch ISBN 9789089311450 Mannen tegen Merckx van Van Looy tot Maertens by Johny Vansevenant in 2012 Dutch ISBN 9789491376214 Eddy Merckx Een leven by Daniel Friebe in 2013 272 p Dutch ISBN 9789401404471 Eddy Merckx De biografie by Johny Vansevenant in 2015 400 p Dutch French ISBN 9789492081513 Eddy Eddy Eddy De Tour in Belgie by Geert de Vriese in 2019 256 p Dutch ISBN 9789089247308 50 jaar Merckx Jubileum van een Tourlegende by Tonny Strouken in 2020 140 p Dutch French ISBN 9789059247314 L Irresistible Ascension d un Jeune Champion by Pierre Thonon in 1968 170 p French Merckx ou la Rage de Vaincre by Leon Zitrone in 1969 208 p French ASIN B0061R9A8O Qui etes vous Eddy Merckx by Marc Jeuniau in 1969 112 p French ASIN B008AWK3MK Du Maillot Arc en Ciel au Maillot Jaune by Pierre Thonon in 1970 167 p French Le Phenomene Eddy Merckx et ses Rivaux by Francois Terbeen in 1971 185 p French ASIN B003WRURD8 Face a Face avec Eddy Merckx by Marc Jeuniau in 1971 111 p French Mes Carnets de Route en 1971 by Marc Jeuniau in 1971 159 p French Plus d un Tour dans Mon Sac Mes Carnets de Route 1972 by Marc Jeuniau in 1972 158 p French Eddy Merckx cet Inconnu by Roger Bastide in 1972 124 p French Les Exploits Fabuleux d Eddy Merckx by Yves Duval and Christian Lippens in 1973 48 p Comic book in French Mes 50 Victoires en 1973 Mes carnets de route 1973 by Rene Jacobs in 1973 159 p French Merckx Ocana Duel au Sommet by Francois Terbeen in 1974 217 p French Coureur Cycliste Un Homme et son Metier by Eddy Merckx and Pierre Chany in 1974 248 p French ISBN 9782221231975 Ma Chasse aux Maillots Rose Jaune Arc en Ciel Mes Carnets de route 1974 by Eddy Merckx Marc Jeuniau Pierre Depre in 1974 158 p French ASIN B0014MKH4C Le Livre d Or de Eddy Merckx by Georges Pagnoud in 1976 111 p French ISBN 978 2263000218 Eddy Merckx l Homme du Defi by Marc Jeuniau in 1977 220 p French ISBN 2801600911 La Roue de la Fortune du Champion a l Homme d Affaires by Joel Godaert in 1989 208 p French ISBN 2 7130 1006 3 Eddy Merckx l Epopee by Theo Mathy in 1999 159 p French ISBN 9782507000455 Merckx Intime by Philippe Brunel in 2002 159 p French ISBN 9782702132289 Eddy Merckx Ma Veritable Histoire by Stephane Thirion in 2006 200 p French ISBN 9782930359595 Eddy Merckx les Tours de France d un Champion Unique by Theo Mathy in 2008 200 p French ISBN 9782507000455 Tour 75 Le Reve du Cannibale by Laurent Watiez in 2010 103 p French ISBN 9782916655208 Dans l Ombre d Eddy Merckx Les Hommes qui ont Couru contre le Cannibale by Johny Vansevenant in 2012 384 p French ISBN 9782507050849 Cazeneuve Thierry Chany Pierre 2011 La fabuleuse histoire du Tour de France The Story of the Tour de France in French Nouv ed ed Paris La Martiniere ISBN 9782732447926 Coup de Foudre dans l Aubisque Eddy Merckx dans la Legende by Bertrand Lucq in 2015 136 p French ISBN 2758800454 Eddy Ma Saison des Classiques en Version 1973 by Francois Paoletti in 2015 212 p French ISBN 9782940585038 Eddy Merckx c est Beaucoup plus qu Eddy Merckx by Christophe Penot in 2015 48 p French ISBN 9782844211262 Sur les Traces d Eddy Merckx by Jean Louis Lahaye and ean Louis Lahaye in 2016 250 p French ISBN 9782507053420 La Fabuleuse Carriere d Eddy Merckx en un Survol by Michel Crepel in 2016 202 p French ISBN 9782334149334 Eddy Ete 69 by Jean Paul Vespini in 2019 191 p French ISBN 9782970132912 On m Appelait le Cannibale by Stephane Thirion in 2019 255 p French ISBN 9782875573919 Eddy Merckx Analyse d une Legende by Jean Cleder in 2019 224 p French ISBN 9782372541183 Merckx Ocana Le Bel Ete 1971 by Pascal Sergent in 2021 153 p French ISBN 9782490997046 E non Chiamatemi piu Cannibale Vita e Imprese di Eddy Merckx by Angelo De Lorenzi in 2003 153 p Italian ISBN 9788888551210 Il Sessantotto a Pedali Al Giro con Eddy Merckx by Francesco Ricci in 2008 151 p Italian ISBN 9788860410825 Fausto Coppi Eddy Merckx Due campionissimi a confronto by Luciano Boccaccini in 2011 112 p Italian ISBN 9788875494353 Chiedimi chi Era Merckx Le Stagioni di Eddy dall Esordio al Congedo by Porreca G Paolo in 2013 237 p Italian ISBN 9788867760206 Merckx il Figlio del Tuono Merckx the Son of Thunder by Claudio Gregori in 2016 570 p Italian ISBN 9788898876587 Gimondi amp Merckx La Sfida by Giorgio Martino in 2019 159 p Italian ISBN 9788898970469 Eddy Merckx by Helmer Boelsen in 1973 128 p German ISBN 9783767900134 Die Nacht in der Ich Eddy Merckx Bezwang by Marc Locatelli in 2019 48 p German ISBN 9783037311936See also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp Sports portal nbsp Belgium portalCycling records Yellow jersey statistics Pink jersey statistics List of Belgians List of foreign recipients of the Legion d Honneur List of Giro d Italia general classification winners List of Grand Tour general classification winners List of noble families in Belgium List of Tour de France general classification winners List of Tour de France secondary classification winners List of Vuelta a Espana general classification winners List of Vuelta a Espana classification winnersReferences editFootnotes This term was popularized by the eponymous film by Joel Santoni that documented Merckx s racing 206 At the 1969 Giro d Italia the top two in the general classification were drug tested after each stage along with two other cyclists chosen at random 231 Citations Clemitson Suze 4 April 2014 Remembering how Eddy Merckx won at home in the 1969 Tour of Flanders The Guardian Archived from the original on 10 May 2015 Retrieved 10 May 2015 a b c d e f g h Evans Hilary Gjerde Arild Heijmans Jeroen Mallon Bill et al Eddy Merckx Olympics at Sports Reference com Sports Reference LLC Archived from the original on 18 April 2020 Retrieved 22 August 2014 a b c d Merckx 525 A tribute to the Cannibal VeloNews Competitor Group Archived from the original on 13 July 2015 Retrieved 14 May 2014 a b Friebe 2012 p 104 a b Fotheringham 2012 p 20 Fotheringham 2012 p 22 Robb Graham 16 March 2012 Merckx Half Man Half Bike by William Fotheringham review The Guardian Retrieved 13 April 2013 Fotheringham 2012 p 23 Fotheringham 2012 pp 23 24 Fotheringham 2012 p 24 a b Fotheringham 2012 p 25 Pietrasik Andy 29 June 2013 Eddy Merckx this much I know The Guardian Archived from the original on 10 May 2015 Retrieved 10 May 2015 Fotheringham 2012 p 30 Fotheringham 2012 p 28 29 Fotheringham 2012 p 31 Fotheringham 2013 p 15 16 Friebe 2012 p 108 a b Fotheringham 2012 p 32 Friebe 2012 pp 108 109 Friebe 2012 p 109 110 a b Eddy Merckx Encyclopedia of World Biography HighBeam Research 2008 Archived from the original on 10 May 2015 Retrieved 10 May 2015 Prova su strada Road test Corriere dello Sport in Italian 23 October 1964 p 4 Archived from the original on 10 May 2015 Retrieved 7 July 2013 a b Heijmans amp Mallon 2011 p 131 Boccacini Gigi 6 September 1964 Invano si e sperato nella volata di Armani It is hoped in vain sprint Armani La Stampa in Italian Editrice La Stampa p 9 Retrieved 27 May 2012 a b c d e Happy Birthday Eddy VeloNews Competitor Group 17 June 2005 Archived from the original on 10 May 2015 Retrieved 13 June 2008 L Equipe France 13 March 2007 Friebe 2012 p 17 a b Friebe 2012 p 19 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 49 a b c d e Eddy Merckx interview Cycling Weekly IPC Media 17 June 2010 Archived from the original on 10 May 2015 Retrieved 26 June 2012 a b c d e Fotheringham 2013 p 50 World Championships 1965 results Men The Sports org Quebec Canada Info Media Conseil Retrieved 2 July 2013 Friebe 2012 p 20 Fotheringham 2013 p 53 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 51 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 52 Fotheringham 2013 pp 51 52 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 57 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 58 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 59 Oggi 202 partenti Today 202 participate Corriere dello Sport in Italian 18 March 1967 p 2 Archived from the original on 10 May 2015 Retrieved 7 July 2013 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 60 Fotheringham 2013 p 62 Fotheringham 2013 p 64 McGann Bill McGann Carol 1967 Giro d Italia Bike Race Info Dog Ear Publishing Archived from the original on 27 February 2014 Retrieved 10 July 2012 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 65 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 66 a b c d e Fotheringham 2013 p 68 a b Merckx nuevo Campeon del Mundo Fondo Carretera Merckx new World Champion Road Fund PDF El Mundo Deportivo in Spanish 4 September 1967 p 5 Archived PDF from the original on 30 August 2015 Retrieved 20 August 2011 Fotheringham 2013 p 71 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 72 Fotheringham 2013 pp 72 73 a b c d e McGann Bill McGann Carol 1968 Giro d Italia Bike Race Info Dog Ear Publishing Archived from the original on 10 October 2014 Retrieved 6 August 2012 Fotheringham 2013 p 73 Fotheringham 2013 p 74 Fotheringham 2013 p 75 Fotheringham 2013 pp 76 77 Fotheringham 2013 p 293 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 88 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 86 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 87 Fotheringham 2013 p 89 Fotheringham 2013 p 100 101 Fotheringham 2013 p 101 Fotheringham 2013 pp 101 102 Fotheringham 2013 p 107 Fotheringham 2013 p 110 Fotheringham 2013 pp 119 120 Fotheringham 2013 p 112 Fotheringham 2013 pp 112 113 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 113 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 114 Fotheringham 2013 p 123 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 128 Fotheringham 2013 pp 128 129 Fotheringham 2013 p 129 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 134 Fotheringham 2013 p 133 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 135 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 136 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 137 a b c d e f g McGann Bill McGann Carol 1970 Giro d Italia Bike Race Info Dog Ear Publishing Archived from the original on 27 February 2014 Retrieved 10 July 2012 Fotheringham 2013 p 138 Fotheringham 2013 p 139 a b c d e f Fotheringham 2013 p 140 Fotheringham 2013 pp 140 141 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 141 a b c d e f g McGann Bill McGann Carol 1970 Tour de France Bike Race Info Dog Ear Publishing Archived from the original on 18 June 2015 Retrieved 10 July 2012 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 142 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 143 Fotheringham 2013 pp 143 144 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 145 Fotheringham 2013 p 146 a b c d e f Fotheringham 2013 p 162 a b c d Foot 2011 p 225 a b c d e f Fotheringham 2013 p 163 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 164 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 165 a b c d e f Fotheringham 2013 p 166 Fotheringham 2013 pp 166 167 Fotheringham 2013 p 167 Fotheringham 2013 pp 168 169 Fotheringham 2013 p 170 Fotheringham 2013 p 171 Fotheringham 2013 p 172 Fotheringham 2013 p 173 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 174 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 175 Fotheringham 2013 p 176 a b c d e f g Fotheringham 2013 p 179 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 181 a b c d e Fotheringham 2013 p 182 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 183 Fotheringham 2013 p 184 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 187 a b c d e f Fotheringham 2013 p 188 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 189 Fotheringham 2013 pp 189 190 a b c d e f Fotheringham 2013 p 190 Fotheringham 2013 p 191 Fotheringham 2013 p 192 Fotheringham 2013 p 193 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 197 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 200 Fotheringham 2013 p 224 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 198 Fotheringham 2013 pp 201 202 Fotheringham 2013 p 203 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 204 a b c d Nauright amp Parrish 2012 p 368 a b c d e f Fotheringham 2013 p 213 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 214 a b c d e Fotheringham 2013 p 215 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 216 Fotheringham 2013 pp 216 217 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 217 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 218 Fotheringham 2013 p 244 a b c d e Fotheringham 2013 p 245 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 246 a b c d e f g Fotheringham 2013 p 247 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 248 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 249 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 250 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 253 Fotheringham 2013 pp 253 254 Merckx logro su tercer titulo mundial batiendo a Poulidor Merckx achieving his third world title beating Poulidor PDF El Mundo Deportivo in Spanish 26 August 1974 p 23 Archived PDF from the original on 30 June 2015 Retrieved 20 August 2011 a b c Gallery Eddy Merckx turns 70 Cycling News Future Publishing 16 March 2012 Archived from the original on 30 June 2015 Retrieved 19 June 2015 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 254 a b c d e Fotheringham 2013 p 255 Fotheringham 2013 pp 255 256 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 256 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 258 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 259 a b c d e f g Fotheringham 2013 p 260 a b c d e Fotheringham 2013 p 261 Fotheringham 2013 p 262 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 263 Fotheringham 2013 p 264 Fotheringham 2013 pp 264 265 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 265 Fotheringham 2013 p 266 Fotheringham 2013 p 267 a b c d e Fotheringham 2013 p 269 a b c d e f Fotheringham 2013 p 270 Fotheringham 2013 p 272 a b c d Fotheringham 2013 p 273 Cazeneuve amp Chany 2011 p 664 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 274 Fotheringham 2013 p 275 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 276 a b c d e f g h Fotheringham 2013 p 281 Fotheringham 2013 pp 281 282 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 271 Palmares de Eddy Merckx Bel Awards of Eddy Merckx Bel Memoire du cyclisme in French Retrieved 8 May 2013 Fotheringham 2013 p 282 a b Friebe 2012 p 328 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 286 a b c Moore amp Benson 2013 p 135 Moore amp Benson 2013 p 134 a b c d e Fotheringham 2013 p 288 Merckx Masterpiece The EDDY70 Peloton Move Press 27 January 2015 Archived from the original on 10 July 2015 Retrieved 10 July 2015 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 287 a b c d e f Gregor Brown 14 February 2015 How Eddy Merckx put the Middle East on the cycling map Cycling Weekly Archived from the original on 11 July 2015 Retrieved 11 July 2015 a b Gregor Brown 9 February 2015 Eddy Merckx rates tough Qatar World Champs course Cycling Weekly IPC Media Archived from the original on 11 July 2015 Retrieved 11 July 2015 a b c Eddy Merckx splits with ASO in Tour of Oman spat Cycling News 15 November 2017 Archived from the original on 9 August 2019 Retrieved 19 June 2019 John Wilcockson 25 February 2015 Merckx pushes to renew Tour of Oman contract despite rider protest VeloNews Competitor Group Archived from the original on 2 July 2015 Retrieved 14 June 2015 Stephen Farrand 19 June 2015 Eddy Merckx reflects on his career and life on his 70th birthday Cycling News Archived from the original on 10 July 2015 Retrieved 19 June 2015 a b c Fotheringham 2013 p 69 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 40 Friebe 2012 p 11 Fotheringham 2013 p 70 a b Heijmans amp Mallon 2011 p 132 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 83 a b c Friebe 2012 p 335 Eddy Merckx eleve au rang de Commandeur de la Legion d honneur Eddy Merckx to the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honour La Presse in French Agence France Presse 6 December 2011 Archived from the original on 12 July 2015 Retrieved 27 May 2012 a b Thorne amp Lambers 1998 p 202 a b c Did Merckx ride with potentially lethal heart problem Cycling News Future Publishing 21 March 2012 Archived from the original on 12 July 2015 Retrieved 19 June 2015 a b c d e VeloNews com 22 March 2013 Eddy Merckx fitted with a pacemaker to control heart issues VeloNews Archived from the original on 12 July 2015 Retrieved 14 June 2015 a b Jeff Jones amp Hedwig Kroner 29 November 2004 Merckx dispels health rumours Cycling News Future Publishing Archived from the original on 12 July 2015 Retrieved 19 June 2015 Long Jonny 20 October 2019 Eddy Merckx released from hospital following bike crash Cycling Weekly Retrieved 22 October 2019 a b c d e f g h Heijmans amp Mallon 2011 p 130 a b c d e f g McGann Bill McGann Carol Eddy Merckx Photo Gallery Bike Race Info Dog Ear Publishing Archived from the original on 13 July 2015 Retrieved 6 August 2012 a b c d George Vecsey 26 August 2011 Appetite for Racing and for Winning The New York Times Associated Press Archived from the original on 22 July 2013 Retrieved 22 June 2012 a b c d Patrick Brady From Inside Peloton 1972 The Greatest Season Ever Peloton Move Press Archived from the original on 10 July 2015 Retrieved 10 July 2015 a b Fotheringham 2013 p 219 Fotheringham 2013 p 220 Fotheringham 2013 p 221 Fotheringham 2013 p 222 a b c d Cycling Weekly 10 June 2015 Cycling Legends the ultimate guide to Eddy Merckx pre order your copy now Cycling Weekly IPC Media Archived from the original on 14 July 2015 Retrieved 26 June 2012 Fotheringham 2013 p 277 Cykelsiderne Database Sejre Etaper pr land Paris Tours Belgien Cykelsiderne net 27 June 2010 Retrieved 17 July 2010 Tour de France An alternative view of the ultimate road race The Independent UK Independent Digital News and Media 6 July 2007 Archived from the original on 8 July 2008 Retrieved 17 July 2010 70 feitjes over de jarige Kannibaal Eddy Merckx www ad nl in Dutch Algemeen Dagblad 17 June 2015 a b c VeloNews com 15 March 2012 Giro d Italia Hall of Fame inducts Eddy Merckx as its first member VeloNews Competitor Group Archived from the original on 30 June 2015 Retrieved 14 May 2014 a b Merckx inducted into Giro d Italia Hall of Fame Cycling News 16 March 2012 Archived from the original on 26 June 2012 Retrieved 13 July 2013 Liggett Raia amp Lewis 2005 p 179 Rupert Guinness 7 July 2019 50 years on Merckx s legendary status gets fresh recognition VeloNews Archived from the original on 9 August 2019 Retrieved 9 August 2019 Tour de France honours Merckx with 2019 Brussels Grand Depart Diario AS Perform Group 30 May 2017 Retrieved 6 July 2019 a b c Friebe 2012 p 146 Foot 2011 p 226 Liggett Raia amp Lewis 2005 p 178 Fotheringham 2013 p 54 Giro d Italia Hall of Fame inducts Eddy Merckx as its first member VeloNews 25 April 2012 Retrieved 30 October 2013 Heijmans amp Mallon 2011 p 131 132 Fotheringham 2013 p 226 RETRO 50 jaar geleden verpulverde Eddy Merckx het uurrecord Sporza 25 October 2022 Retrieved 25 October 2022 a b McGann Bill McGann Carol 1969 Giro d Italia Bike Race Info Dog Ear Publishing Archived from the original on 27 February 2014 Retrieved 10 July 2012 a b c d e Stephen Farrand 3 May 2011 Giro d Italia The Merckx years Cyclingnews com Bath UK Archived from the original on 11 May 2015 Retrieved 10 May 2015 a b c d e f g Les Woodland 23 September 2008 Will Eddy receive a warm welcome Cyclingnews com Bath UK Archived from the original on 11 May 2015 Retrieved 10 May 2015 a b c d Foot 2011 p 251 a b Milestones Eddy Merckx amp the Tour de France that Almost Wasn t Flahute 1 August 2019 Rino Negri 6 June 1999 Merckx positivo cacciato dal Giro nel 1969 Merckx positive expelled from the Tour in 1969 La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italian Archived from the original on 11 May 2015 Retrieved 27 May 2012 The Secret of Savona Podium Cafe 6 May 2017 Carlos Arribas 6 June 1999 Merckx tambien tuvo que dejar el Giro Merckx also had to leave the Giro El Pais in Spanish Archived from the original on 11 May 2015 Retrieved 27 May 2012 Foot 2011 p 254 Foot 2011 pp 252 253 a b Foot 2011 p 253 Foot 2011 p 252 a b c d e f Gianni Pignata 9 November 1973 Merckx doping nel Lombardia Merckx doping in Lombardia La Stampa in Italian Editrice La Stampa p 19 Retrieved 27 May 2012 a b c Merckx positivo Il lt lt Lombardia gt gt e di Gimondi Merckx positivo The lt lt Lombardia gt gt is Gimondi s PDF l Unita in Italian PCI 9 November 1973 p 10 Archived from the original PDF on 11 May 2015 Retrieved 27 May 2012 McGann Bill McGann Carol 1973 Giro di Lombardia results Bike Race Info Dog Ear Publishing Archived from the original on 11 May 2015 Retrieved 10 July 2012 De kampioen Merckx was de maat der dingen ondanks de mens Merckx in Dutch Het Nieuwsblad 17 June 2010 Merckx tambien tuvo que dejar el Giro Merckx also had to leave the Giro El Pais in Spanish 8 May 1977 Archived from the original on 18 June 2015 Retrieved 27 May 2012 Maetans sospeso ma fara il Giro Maetans suspended but will do the Giro La Stampa in Italian Editrice La Stampa Associated Press 10 May 1977 p 19 Retrieved 27 May 2012 lt lt Condizionale gt gt per Merckx Maertens e altri quattro lt lt Conditional gt gt for Merckx Maertens and four others PDF l Unita in Italian PCI 10 May 1977 p 12 Archived from the original PDF on 18 June 2015 Retrieved 27 May 2012 Merckx y Maertens se doparon Merckx and Maertens were doped PDF El Mundo Deportivo in Spanish 9 May 1977 p 52 Archived PDF from the original on 18 June 2015 Retrieved 21 April 2013 a b c Merckx y Maertens contra el lt lt anti doping gt gt Merckx and Maertens against lt lt anti doping gt gt PDF El Mundo Deportivo in Spanish 11 May 1977 p 30 Archived PDF from the original on 18 June 2015 Retrieved 21 April 2013 a b c Gregor Brown amp Bjorn Haake 26 September 2007 Eddy Merckx joins list of unwelcome people in Stuttgart Cyclingnews com Archived from the original on 17 July 2015 Retrieved 28 September 2014 Adelbrieven verleend door Z M Albert II Koning der Belgen 1993 2000 Lannoo Uitgeverij 29 November 2018 ISBN 9789020945232 Retrieved 29 November 2018 via Google Books rdc 12 May 2014 Freddy Thielemans wordt officier in de Franse Legion d honneur in Dutch De Standaard Retrieved 29 November 2018 Olympic Order Recipients 1386 Retrieved 1 January 2023 Eddy Merckx krijgt eredoctoraat van VUB in Dutch Bruzz 17 March 2011 Eddy Merckx krijgt Orde van Verdienste Dit is grote eer in Dutch Het Laatste Nieuws 31 May 2013 Toch maar mooi ereburger zoals Eddy Merckx in Dutch Eddy Merckx opent oorlogsmuseum in Tielt Winge in Dutch Merckx ereburger van Tervuren in Dutch a b c 70 feitjes over de jarige Kannibaal Eddy Merckx in Dutch Sportnieuws nl 17 June 2015 Palmares Sportman van het jaar in Dutch De Standaard 18 December 2011 Challenge Gan in French Memoire du Cyclisme 2017 AIOCC TROPHY AOICC All time wins ranking ProCyclingStats Merckx en Berghmans sportfiguren van de eeuw in Dutch De Standaard 30 December 2000 Pele tops sportsman of the century poll IOL 19 November 1999 Eddy Merckx naast de prijzen in verkiezing sportlui van de eeuw in Dutch De Standaard 22 November 1999 Samaranch premia Merckx in Italian La Gazetta Dello Sport 16 April 2000 80 Leyendas Eddy Merckx como ser el mejor de todos los tiempos Marca in Spanish May 2018 Ciclismo Contador recibira hoy el Premio Torriani Marca 12 October 2018 Les meilleurs coureurs de tous les temps 1892 2002 in French Memoire du Cyclisme 31 December 2021 Bronzen Zinnekes voor Merckx Van Himst en Wynants in Dutch bruzz be 7 June 2006 Michael Jordan Or Wayne Gretzky The 30 Most Dominant Athletes Of All Time Bleacher Report 1 October 2010 Tour de France All Time Top 25 Riders No 5 to 1 Bleacher Report 9 July 2011 Mark Cavendish e Eddy Merckx ricevono il Premio Internazionale Sport Civilta Suipedali in Italian 7 November 2011 Giro d Italia Hall of Fame inducts Eddy Merckx as its first member VeloNews 16 March 2012 Top 15 des plus grands cyclistes de tous les temps le best of Topito 1 July 2012 Pauline Ferrand Prevot and Eddy Merckx honoured in Paris The Bike Comes First 24 December 2014 Eddy Merckx is guest of honour at 2018 Rouleur Classic Endurance biz 18 September 2018 The Outer Line Ranking the greatest cyclists of all time Velonews 20 February 2019 The best cyclists ever ranked Wiggle 6 July 2022 Eddy Merckx voted greatest GC cyclist of all time The Eurosport Cup Eurosport 19 July 2020 Overall Ranking Cycling Ranking VELO D OR 2023 Die Preistragerinnen amp Preistrager im Uberblick in German tour magazin de 25 October 2023 Cote de Stockeu in Dutch Klimgeiten Tour de France Mourenx un tres bon souvenir pour Eddy Merckx in French Sudouest 15 July 2021 Metrostation Eddy Merckx in Dutch De Standaard 12 March 2002 Vlaams Wielercentrum Eddy Merckx in Dutch Sport Vlaanderen Eddy Merckx onthult eigen monument in Meise in Dutch RingTV 13 June 2015 Standbeeld Eddy Merckx krijgt vaste stek aan Huis Pypen in Dutch Het Nieuwsblad 13 October 2015 Plein voor Eddy Merckx in Brussel ingehuldigd waarom hij wel maar Nina Derwael niet in Dutch VRT 28 March 2019 Les Jeunes sur la Route La Derniere Heure in French 3 March 2008 Retrieved 6 January 2023 2004 GP Eddy Merckx 1 2 ProCyclingStats Rennserie CHIBA Alpencup Der CHIBA Alpencup findet 2020 leider nicht statt in German AlpenGuide de Zu Ehren von Eddy Merckx Tour de France Start 2019 angeblich in Brussel in German Eurosport 30 May 2017 Velo d Or 2023 suivez en direct video la ceremonie in French lequipe fr 24 October 2023 1969 The Year of Eddy Merckx in English at last Sporza 24 December 2022 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eddy Merckx Eddy Merckx at Cycling Archives Eddy Merckx at Olympedia Eddy Merckx at Olympics comEddy Merckx at OlympicChannel com archived Eddy Merckx at Olympic org archived RecordsPreceded byOle Ritter UCI hour record 49 431 km 25 October 1972 27 October 2000 Succeeded byChris BoardmanBelgian nobilityNew creation Baron Merckx1996 Incumbent Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eddy Merckx amp oldid 1184685367, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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