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Merckx at the 1966 World Championships | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Edouard Louis Joseph Merckx | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname | The Cannibal | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | 17 June 1945 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | ![]() |
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Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Retired | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Discipline | Road and track | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Role | Rider | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rider type | All-rounder | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Professional team(s) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
1966–1967 1968–1970 1971–1976 1977 1978 |
Peugeot-BP Faema Molteni Fiat C&A |
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Major wins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Infobox last updated on: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
30 July 2008 |
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx (IPA: ['merks]) (born 17 June 1945 in Meensel-Kiezegem, Vlaams Brabant, Belgium), known as Eddy Merckx, is a former Belgian professional cyclist. Merckx, regarded as the greatest and most successful cyclist of all time,[1] established several world cycling records, some of which remain unbroken to this day. Merckx was nicknamed "the cannibal" because he wanted to win every race he participated in, never "arranging" a race with another competitor. Other nicknames were "the Einstein of the two-wheelers", and, courtesy of Jacques Goddet, "Le Géant" (The Giant).
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Merckx started competing in 1961. In 1964, he was selected for the road race at the 1964 Summer Olympics, and finished 12th place. In the same year, he became world champion in the amateur category, before turning professional in 1965 with the Solo-Superia team under the leadership of Rik Van Looy. Despite winning 9 races in 1965, Merckx was unhappy in the Solo-Superia team. Consequently, in 1966 he signed for the Peugeot cycling team and gained immediate success when he won the first of seven editions of Milan-San Remo in only his second classic race and still at the tender age of 20. In 1967 he repeated his 1966 Milan - San Remo success and also won La Fleche Wallonne. He started his first grand tour at the 1967 Giro d'Italia. He won two stages and finished ninth overall. Later that year he outsprinted Jan Janssen to become world champion in the professional category in Heerlen, The Netherlands.
In 1968 with the rainbow jersey on his back and a change to the Italian Faema team, Merckx went on to win Paris-Roubaix for the first time and started his domination of the Grand Tours by becoming the first Belgian to win the Giro d'Italia in 1968.[2] He would repeat this four times, equalling Alfredo Binda's and Fausto Coppi's record of five victories.
Starting the 1969 season, he won Paris-Nice stage race. In the time trial, he overtook the five-time Tour de France winner Jacques Anquetil who over the previous 15 years had been the master of that discipline. In the Spring Classics, Merckx went on to win Milan-Sanremo, the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Liege-Bastogne-Liege. During the 1969 Giro d'Italia, he was found to have used drugs and was subsequently disqualified. He cried in front of the reporters, and to this day, protests his innocence. He argued that there were no counter-experts nor counter-analysis and that foreign supporters hated him. Further, he stated that the stage during which he was allegedly using drugs was an easy one, so there was no need to use drugs. The Belgian prince sent a plane to bring him to Belgium.
In his Tour de France debut in 1969, Merckx immediately won the yellow jersey (overall leader), the green jersey (best sprinter) and the red polka-dotted jersey ("King of the Mountains" - best climber in the mountain stages). No other cyclist has achieved this triple in the Tour de France, and only Tony Rominger and Laurent Jalabert have been able to match this feat at the Grand Tour level, in the 1993 and 1995 Vueltas, respectively. If the young riders' white jersey (for best rider in the Tour under 25 years of age) had existed at that time, Merckx would have won that as well, as he had only just turned 24. His dominance was total and his winning margin over the second placed rider of just short of 18 minutes has not been bettered since. It was the first time a Belgian had won the Tour de France since Sylvère Maes 30 years earlier, and Merckx became a national hero. 1969 also featured the blackest day in Merckx's career, when he crashed in a derny race towards the end of the season. A pacer and a cyclist fell in front of Merckx's pacer, Fernand Wambst. Wambst was killed instantly, and Merckx was knocked unconscious and suffered a concussion. This accident cracked a vertebra and twisted his pelvis. He admitted in interviews that, because of his injuries, his riding was never the same. He would frequently adjust his saddle while riding and would always be in pain, especially while climbing.
In the 1970 Tour de France, Merckx was the clear winner again, although not without difficulties. While climbing Mont Ventoux in 1970 to a stage win, he pushed himself so hard that oxygen had to be administered. In that Tour, Merckx won 8 stages, equalling the record of 1930 by Charles Pélissier.[3] In that Tour, he again won the mountains classification and finished second in the sprinter's classification.
The greatest challenge to Merckx was in the 1971 Tour de France. Luis Ocaña attacked and won the maillot jaune by several minutes. Ocaña held his lead until a crash forced him to withdraw, and Merckx could win the Tour again. The same year he also became world champion again. In 1972, there was much anticipation of a rematch between Merckx and Ocaña. Before that could happen, Merckx had a battle with Jose Manuel Fuente in the 1972 Giro d'Italia in which Merckx beat the climber in the mountain stages. In the 1972 edition of the tour Ocaña became sick and withdrew and the duel did not materialize.[4]
At that moment, with four victories he was approaching Jacques Anquetil's record of five victories, and the French public was becoming hostile. For that reason, the Tour direction requested Merckx not to start in the 1973 Tour de France; instead Merckx participated in and won the 1973 Vuelta a Espana, where he beat Luis Ocaña and Bernard Thévenet, and the 1973 Giro d'Italia.
In 1974, Merckx started in the Tour de France again, which he also won, thereby equalling Jacques Anquetil. Over the next 25 years, only Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain were able to equal the five victories. Then Lance Armstrong won the Tour a sixth (2004) and a seventh (2005) time. Merckx still holds the records for stage wins (34) and number of days in the Yellow Jersey (96).
Merckx's final victory in the Giro d'Italia in the 1974 edition was a tight battle between Merckx and two Italians. In the end, Merckx won by 12 seconds over Gianbattista Baronchelli and 33 seconds over Felice Gimondi.[5] Merckx also won the world championship in 1974 for the third time, which only Alfredo Binda and Rik Van Steenbergen had done before him, and only Óscar Freire would do after him. Because of his victories in the three most important races of the year, the 1974 Tour de France, the 1974 Giro d'Italia and the 1974 world championship, Merckx won the Triple Crown of Cycling. Since then, only Stephen Roche has been able to do that in 1987.
Merckx's domination in the Grand Tours came to an end in 1975. That year, he attempted to win his sixth Tour de France but became a victim of violence. Many Frenchmen were upset that a Belgian might beat the record five wins set by Jacques Anquetil. Merckx held the yellow jersey for eight days, which raised his record to 96 days, but whilst he was climbing the Puy de Dôme on stage 14, a French spectator punched him in the body. A later collision with the Danish rider Ole Ritter broke his jaw. Although he could not eat solid food and was barely able to talk, Merckx did not retire. During the last stage, he attacked leader Bernard Thevenet (but was caught by the peloton). Still Merckx finished that tour at the second place in the overall classification, the second place in the mountains classification and the second place in the sprinter's classification.
In 1976, Merckx did not enter the Tour. In the 1977 Tour de France, Merckx finished 6th. He retired from racing in 1978, at the age of 33.
In addition to Grand Tour successes, Merckx has an impressive list of victories in one-day races (for a comprehensive list, see lower down). Among the highlights are a record of seven victories in Milan-Sanremo (absolute record of victories in one single classic race), two victories in the Ronde van Vlaanderen, three wins in Paris-Roubaix, five in Liège-Bastogne-Liège (record), and two in the Giro di Lombardia, a total of 19 victories in the "Monument" Classics. He also won the World Road Racing Championship a record three times in 1967, 1971 and 1974, and every Classic except Paris-Tours. Finally, he won 17 six-day track races, often with Patrick Sercu.
The following are records that Merckx set during his career.
Merckx also set the hour record in 1972. On 25 October, after he had raced a full road season winning the Tour, Giro and four Classics, Merckx covered 49.431 km at high altitude in Mexico City. The record remained untouched until 1984, when Francesco Moser broke it using a specially designed bicycle and meticulous improvements in streamlining. Over the next 15 years, various racers improved the record to more than 56 km. However, because of the increasingly exotic design of the bikes and position of the rider, these performances were no longer reasonably comparable to Merckx's achievement. In response, the UCI in 2000 required a "traditional" bike to be used. When time trial specialist Chris Boardman, who had retired from road racing and had prepared himself specifically for beating the record, had another go at Merckx's distance 28 years later, he beat it by slightly more than 10 meters (at sea level).
Having retired, Merckx has a bicycle factory[6] and is a race commentator. He was coach of the Belgian national cycling team during the mid-90s, and part of the Belgian Olympic Committee. Merckx is still asked to comment as an authority on cycling. As such, he has also figured as special advisor for the recent UCI addition "Tour of Qatar" since 2002.
In May 2004, he underwent an esophagus operation to cure the constant stomach ache which he suffered since he was a young man. He lost almost 30 kg in the process, and took up recreational cycling again.
In 1967 Merckx married Claudine Acou. Merckx's mother asked the priest to celebrate the ceremony in French, a choice that ended up being a contentious issue in Belgium. They had two children: a daughter (Sabrina) and a son (Axel, who also became a professional cyclist).
Despite this early incident, Merckx may be considered a perfect ambassador to Belgium (i.e. not leaning towards Flanders or Wallonia, but supporting the unity of the country). This, with his achievements, pushed him to high rankings in both the Flemish (3rd) and Walloon (4th) editions of the Greatest Belgian contest, held in 2005.
In 1996 King of the Belgians gave him the lifelong title of baron. In 2000 he was chosen Belgian "Sports Figure of the Century".
Merckx is known as a quiet and modest person. Many of his former helpers have worked in his bicycle factory and join him during recreational bike tours. When he ended up in 3rd place behind Father Damien and Paul Janssen in the Greatest Belgian contest, after being named as one of the favourites, he stated that he "...would have been outright ashamed to have ended up in front of Damien."[7] Since then, Merckx has actually become special ambassador for the foundation, named after the Catholic priest, which battles leprosy and other diseases in development countries.
Merckx has condemned doping, but as mentioned he also tested positive three times in his career. For this very fact, the organization of the 2007 World Championships in Stuttgart explicitly included Merckx in a list of people who would not be welcome at the event. The decision caused quite a row and was criticized in the press and by the UCI.[8] When he confirms his stance against doping, Merckx will typically point out that cycling is unfairly treated when compared to other sports.
In the 1990s, he became a friend of Lance Armstrong and supported him when he was accused of drug use, stating he rather "believed what Lance told him than what appeared in newspapers". One of his closest friends is former RSC Anderlecht-player Paul van Himst.
1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | |
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Tour de France general classification | - | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 2 | - | 6 |
Tour de France mountains classification | - | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | - | 2 | 2 | - | ? |
Tour de France points classification | - | - | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | 2 | 2 | - | 5 |
Tour de France stages won | - | - | 6 | 8 | 4 | 6 | - | 8 | 2 | - | 0 |
Giro d'Italia general classification | 9 | 1 | DSQ | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 8 | - |
Giro d'Italia mountains classification | 3 | 1 | DSQ | 4 | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | 7 | - |
Giro d'Italia points classification | 2 | 1 | DSQ | 3 | - | 2 | 1 | 4 | - | 2 | - |
Giro d'Italia stages won | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | - | 4 | 6 | 2 | - | 0 | - |
Vuelta a España general classification | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
Vuelta a España mountains classification | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | - | - | - | - |
Vuelta a España points classification | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | - | - | - |
Vuelta a España stages won | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - |
Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by Rudi Altig |
World Road Racing Champion 1967 |
Succeeded by Vittorio Adorni |
Preceded by Jean-Pierre Monseré |
World Road Racing Champion 1971 |
Succeeded by Marino Basso |
Preceded by Felice Gimondi |
World Road Racing Champion 1974 |
Succeeded by Hennie Kuiper |
Preceded by Jan Janssen |
Winner of the Tour de France 1969-72 |
Succeeded by Luis Ocaña |
Preceded by Luis Ocaña |
Winner of the Tour de France 1974 |
Succeeded by Bernard Thévenet |
Preceded by Felice Gimondi |
Winner of the Giro d'Italia 1968 |
Succeeded by Felice Gimondi |
Preceded by Felice Gimondi |
Winner of the Giro d'Italia 1970 |
Succeeded by Gösta Pettersson |
Preceded by Gösta Pettersson |
Winner of the Giro d'Italia 1972-74 |
Succeeded by Fausto Bertoglio |
Preceded by José Manuel Fuente |
Winner of the Vuelta a España 1973 |
Succeeded by José Manuel Fuente |
Preceded by Franco Bitossi |
Winner of the green jersey in the Tour de France 1969 |
Succeeded by Walter Godefroot |
Preceded by Walter Godefroot |
Winner of the green jersey in the Tour de France 1971-1972 |
Succeeded by Herman Van Springel |
Preceded by Jan Janssen |
Winner of Paris-Roubaix 1968 |
Succeeded by Walter Godefroot |
Preceded by Walter Godefroot |
Winner of Paris-Roubaix 1970 |
Succeeded by Roger Rosiers |
Preceded by Roger De Vlaeminck |
Winner of Paris-Roubaix 1973 |
Succeeded by Roger De Vlaeminck |
Awards | ||
Preceded by Serge Reding |
Belgian Sportsman of the Year 1969–1974 |
Succeeded by Bruno Brokken |
Records | ||
Preceded by Ole Ritter |
UCI hour record (49.431 km) 25 October 1972-27 October 2000 |
Succeeded by Chris Boardman |
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