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Eddy Merckx - The Cannibal of Cycling
Eddy Merckx, born on June 17, 1945 in Meensel-Kiezegem, Belgium, is regarded by cycling experts worldwide as the greatest professional cyclist of all time. His nickname "The Cannibal" reflects his uncompromising winning mentality - he devoured every opponent and won virtually every significant race of his era. With 525 career victories, five Tour de France overall wins and countless other successes, Merckx shaped cycling like no other athlete before or after him.
The Early Years and the Breakthrough
Eddy Merckx began his cycling career as an amateur and won the amateur world championship in 1964. Even at a young age, his exceptional talent for all cycling disciplines was evident - from mountain stages to time trials to sprints.
Entry into Professional Racing (1965)
- 1965: Professional debut with the Belgian team Solo-Superia
- 1966: First major victory at Milan-Sanremo at just 21 years old
- 1967: Won the Giro d'Italia and world championship title on the road in Heerlen (Netherlands)
- 1968: Triple victory at the Giro d'Italia (overall classification, points classification, mountains classification)
These early successes were just the beginning of an unprecedented career that would change cycling forever.
The Dominant Years (1969-1975)
The period between 1969 and 1975 marks the absolute peak of Eddy Merckx's career. In these years, he dominated cycling like no other athlete before.
Tour de France Victories
Eddy Merckx won the Tour de France five times - a record he shares with Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain:
Monument Classic Victories
Merckx won all five Monument Classics multiple times - an achievement that remains unmatched:
- Milan-Sanremo: 7 victories (1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976)
- Tour of Flanders: 2 victories (1969, 1975)
- Paris-Roubaix: 3 victories (1968, 1970, 1973)
- Liège-Bastogne-Liège: 5 victories (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975)
- Tour of Lombardy: 2 victories (1971, 1972)
Records and Milestones
The statistical achievements of Eddy Merckx are extraordinary and will likely never be surpassed:
Career Highlights in Numbers
- 525 victories in professional career (record)
- 5 Tour de France overall victories (shared with 4 other riders)
- 5 Giro d'Italia overall victories (record, shared with Alfredo Binda and Fausto Coppi)
- 1 Vuelta a España overall victory (1973)
- 3 world championship titles on the road (1967, 1971, 1974)
- 96 Grand Tour stage victories (34 Tour de France, 25 Giro d'Italia, 1 Vuelta)
- 19 Monument Classic victories
- Hour record: 49.431 km (1972, Mexico City)
Grand Tour Triple Crown
Eddy Merckx is one of the few riders to have won all three Grand Tours:
- Tour de France (5x)
- Giro d'Italia (5x)
- Vuelta a España (1x)
Grand Tour Dominance: Merckx won a total of 11 Grand Tours - a record that still stands today. His 96 Grand Tour stage victories are also unmatched.
Riding Style and Winning Mentality
Eddy Merckx's nickname "The Cannibal" comes from his uncompromising winning mentality. Christian Raymond, a French cycling journalist, coined the term when Merckx's daughter Sabrina was born and a colleague joked that Merckx would devour his child.
Characteristic Features
- Versatility: Merckx was competitive in all disciplines - mountains, time trials, sprints
- Dominance: He didn't just win, but regularly destroyed the field with overwhelming leads
- Aggressiveness: Merckx attacked from any position, even when he was already leading
- Work ethic: Intensive training and unconditional will to win shaped his career
- Tactical intelligence: Perfect timing of attacks and pace increases
Controversies and Doping Allegations
Eddy Merckx's career was not free from controversies. In 1969, he tested positive for a stimulant during the Giro d'Italia and was excluded from the race, although he was clearly leading at that time.
The 1969 Giro Exclusion
- Positive test: Reaktamine (a stimulant) in Savona
- Merckx's reaction: Always claimed the result was manipulated or caused by contaminated food
- Consequences: Disqualification from the Giro, one-month ban
- Long-term effect: The incident overshadowed his first Tour victory in 1969
The End of Active Career
After a crash in 1975 and increasing health problems, Eddy Merckx ended his active career in 1978. His last race was a criterium in Kemzeke, Belgium.
Reasons for Career End
- Health problems: Chronic back pain after several crashes
- Declining form: Younger rivals like Bernard Hinault were catching up
- Motivation: After 13 years of professional cycling with 525 victories, Merckx had achieved everything
- Age: At 33 years old, he wanted to start a new phase of his life
Life After Active Career
After his retirement, Eddy Merckx founded the bicycle brand "Eddy Merckx Cycles" in 1980, which still produces high-quality racing bikes today. He remained closely connected to cycling as a consultant, commentator and brand ambassador.
Entrepreneurial Activities
- Eddy Merckx Cycles: Production of premium racing bikes since 1980
- Brand ambassador: Representative for various cycling and sports brands
- Consultant: Support for various cycling teams and organizations
Legacy and Influence
Eddy Merckx is considered by many as the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) of cycling. His records and influence on the sport are undisputed.
Why Merckx is Considered the Greatest
Awards and Honors
- Athlete of the Year in Belgium (multiple times)
- Induction into the Hall of Fame of numerous cycling organizations
- UNESCO Award for his contribution to sport
- Honorary citizen of several Belgian cities
- Monument and statue in Brussels and other cities
Important: Eddy Merckx is the only rider in history to have won all five Monument Classics at least twice. This versatility makes him unique.
Comparison with Modern Champions
Compared to modern cycling stars like Tadej Pogačar or Jonas Vingegaard, Merckx's exceptional versatility becomes evident:
Merckx vs. Modern Stars
- Specialization today: Modern riders often focus on Grand Tours or Classics
- Merckx's approach: Won everything - from one-day races to three-week Grand Tours
- Number of races: Merckx rode significantly more races per season than today's professionals
- Training methods: Modern technology vs. Merckx's instinctive training
The Most Important Rivals
During his career, Eddy Merckx had several significant rivals:
- Roger De Vlaeminck: Belgian Classics specialist, won Paris-Roubaix four times
- Felice Gimondi: Italian all-rounder, one of the few who could beat Merckx
- Luis Ocaña: Spanish climber, almost won the Tour in 1971
- Joop Zoetemelk: Dutch time trial specialist, often second behind Merckx
- Bernard Thévenet: French rider, defeated Merckx at the Tour in 1975
Technology and Equipment
Eddy Merckx rode various bikes during his career, including Faema, Molteni and De Rosa. His requirements for materials and technology were revolutionary for the time.
Merckx's Material Requirements
- Weight: Strived for the lightest available frames
- Geometry: Special adjustments for optimal aerodynamics
- Components: Used Campagnolo groupsets of the highest category
- Innovation: Was open to new technologies and materials
Quotes and Sayings
Eddy Merckx was known for his modest nature, despite his overwhelming successes:
"The most important thing in cycling is not to win, but to participate and give your best."
"I didn't just ride to win. I rode to dominate."
"When I don't feel good, I only win by 100 meters instead of 10 minutes."
Training and Preparation
Merckx's training methods were advanced for the time, but seem rather instinctive by today's standards:
Training Philosophy
- High training kilometers: Often over 30,000 km per year
- Toughness: Trained in all weather conditions, no compromises
- Versatility: Practiced all disciplines regularly
- Recovery: Little focus on recovery by today's understanding
- Instinct: Relied on body feeling instead of scientific data
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many Tour de France did Eddy Merckx win?
Eddy Merckx won the Tour de France five times (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974) and shares this record with Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain and later Lance Armstrong (whose victories were however revoked).
Why was Eddy Merckx called "The Cannibal"?
The nickname arose from his uncompromising winning mentality. He didn't just win, but literally dominated his opponents. The French journalist Christian Raymond coined the term.
How many races did Eddy Merckx win in total?
Eddy Merckx won 525 races during his professional career from 1965 to 1978 - an unmatched record in cycling history.
Did Eddy Merckx win all five Monument Classics?
Yes, Merckx is the only rider to have won all five Monument Classics at least twice. He collected a total of 19 Monument victories.
Were there doping allegations against Eddy Merckx?
Yes, in 1969 Merckx tested positive during the Giro d'Italia and was disqualified. He always denied knowingly using doping and attributed the positive test to manipulation or contaminated food.
The Significance for Belgium
Eddy Merckx is not only a cycling legend, but also a Belgian national icon. His success brought Belgium worldwide recognition in cycling.
Cultural Influence
- Role model: Inspired generations of Belgian cyclists
- National pride: United Flemish and Walloon Belgians
- Economy: Promoted the Belgian bicycle industry
- Tourism: Cycling tourism in Belgium grew through Merckx's successes
Checklist: What Makes Eddy Merckx a Legend?
- 525 career victories - Unmatched record
- 11 Grand Tour overall victories - More than anyone else
- 19 Monument Classics - Unique versatility
- 3 world championship titles - Dominance over a decade
- 96 Grand Tour stage victories - Absolute superiority
- Hour record - 49.431 km (1972)
- Won all Grand Tours - Triple Crown winner
- Versatility - Successes in all disciplines
- Dominance period - 7 years of absolute superiority
- Legacy - Still unchallenged G.O.A.T. today