Despite the recent crowning of Lance Armstrong as the only rider to win the Tour de France seven times consecutively, Eddy Merckx is considered by many to retain the title as the best racer of all time. This is due in no small part to the fact that he is a five time champion of both the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia. In addition, he is one of only a small number of riders to have won all three of the Grand Tours; the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana. His position as one of only two men to have won both the Triple Crown of racing and the World Championship only add to his fame as one of the greatest cyclists of all time.
Born in 1945 in Belgium, Merckx became a professional cyclist at the age of 19. In 1964, Merckx brought home the World Amateur Road Race Championship, going on to win several more important races during the next two years. 1966 brought his first major victory in the Milan-San Remo. Ironically enough, the Milan San-Remo would also be his last major victory ten years later. Merckx debuted in the 1969 Tour de France, nabbing three of the coveted Tour jerseys including the most prestigious yellow jersey. The 1969 win was quite a coup for the cyclist because aside from the fact that it was his first Tour win; it followed a devastating humiliation when Merckx was booted out of the Giro d’Italia for reported use of illegal substances. Merckx later claimed that the Italians set him up.
During his prestigious 13 year career, Merckx earned the nickname Cannibal due to his determination to win. Following five wins, Merckx was poised for his sixth win in 1975, a feat that at the time had never been accomplished. Merckx had held the lead for eight days, however; he was attacked by a disgruntled spectator during a subsequent stage of the race. Despite serious internal injuries, Merckx continued to ride the Tour, but was unable to win the lead again. The following year he rode in the Tour once again, however this attempt at a sixth win was also unsuccessful.
1969 to 1975 are considered to be his peak years in which he won an impressive 35% of all races entered; nearly 1600. Surprisingly, the beginning of his peak years began with both an impressive debut and win at the 1969 Tour de France and a devastating injury at a derny-paced exhibition. During the latter race, which is composed of cyclists following their own motorcycle pacer around an oval track, Merckx was seriously injured when both a pacer and cyclist fell directly in front of him. As a result, both Merckx and his own pacer fell. While Merckx was knocked unconscious and sustained a concussion from a bleeding head wound, his pacer was killed instantly. Upon examination, it was discovered that Merckx had suffered further injuries including a cracked vertebrae and twisted pelvis. Even though, the cyclist win on to record an impressive number of wins he later admitted that his riding was never quite the same. In particular, mountain climbing was difficult and painful. It has been speculated that this early injury may have limited his otherwise outstanding career to some degree.
His most outstanding victories during his career include 5 Tours de France, 7 Milan-San Remo Classics, 5 Tours of Italy, 5 Liege-Bastogne-Liege, 1 Tour of Spain, 2 Tours of Belgium, 3 World Championships, 2 Tours of Lombardy, 1 Tour of Switzerland, 3 Wallonia Races, 3 Paris-Roubaix and 1 World Hour Record. In addition, he is one of only a small number of riders to have won all three of the Grand Tours; the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana. His position as one of only two men to have won both the Triple Crown of racing and the World Championship only add to his fame as one of the greatest cyclists of all time.
Since his retirement in 1978, Merckx has concentrated on manufacturing bicycles.
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