Eddy Merckx – The Greatest Cyclist of All Time

Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx is widely regarded as one of the greatest cyclists in the history of the sport due to his extraordinary dominance in the 1960s and 1970s.

Eddy Merckx: Early life and beginnings in cycling

Eddy Merckx was born Édouard Louis Joseph Merckx on June 17, 1945, in Meensel-Kiezegem. It’s a small village in Flanders, in the heartland of Belgian cycling. He grew up in a middle-class family, His father was a grocer. Eddy was introduced to cycling at a young age, inspired by the local cycling culture and his own passion for the sport. Merckx began racing competitively as a teenager, and his talent quickly became evident. He won his first major race, the Belgian amateur road championship, in 1964, It marked the beginning of his rise in the sport.

Professional career and major achievements

Eddy Merckx turned professional in 1965, and his career took off almost immediately. Over the next decade and a half, he would dominate the world of cycling like no other before or since. Here are some of his most significant achievements:

Grand Tours

Merckx’s success in the grand tours – multi-stage races that last several weeks – was unmatched:

• Tour de France: Merckx won the Tour de France five times (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974). His 1969 victory was particularly remarkable as he won the general classification, points classification, and mountains classification, a feat that had never been accomplished before or since.
• Giro d’Italia: Merckx also won the Giro d’Italia five times (1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974), showcasing his versatility and endurance.
• Vuelta a España: He won the Vuelta in 1973, completing his set of victories in all three grand tours.

One-Day Classics

In addition to his success in stage races, Merckx was a master of one-day classics, winning 19 “Monuments,” the most prestigious of these races:

• Milan–San Remo: 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)
• Giro di Lombardia: 2 victories (1971, 1972)

World Championships

Merckx won the UCI Road World Championships three times (1967, 1971, 1974), a record shared by only a few other cyclists.

Hour Record

On October 25, 1972, Merckx set the world hour record by covering 49.431 kilometers in one hour, a record that stood for 12 years. This achievement was particularly notable as Merckx set the record at altitude in Mexico City, facing challenges of both oxygen scarcity and physical exertion.

Merckx’s Tour de France stage wins

Amazingly, Eddy Merckx held the record for the most Tour de France stage wins for nearly five decades, a testament to his dominance in the sport. Over his illustrious career, Merckx won 34 Tour de France stages, a record he set during his active years between 1969 and 1975. This achievement stood as one of the most significant benchmarks in professional cycling and further solidified his status as one of the greatest cyclists of all time.

Merckx’s 34th and final stage win came during the 1975 Tour de France, after which he continued to compete in the Tour but did not add to his tally. For decades, this record seemed untouchable, as other riders came close but ultimately fell short.

Mark Cavendish finally breaks the record

In 2021, British cyclist Mark Cavendish equaled Merckx’s record of 34 stage wins during the Tour de France, an achievement that was widely celebrated. Cavendish, known as one of the greatest sprinters in cycling history, had been accumulating stage wins since his first victory in 2008.

The historic moment when Cavendish broke Merckx’s long-standing record came on Wednesday July 3, 2024, during the 14th stage of the Tour de France, when Cavendish won his 35th stage. This victory was a monumental moment in the world of cycling, as Cavendish’s achievement highlighted not only his incredible career longevity and consistency but also the evolution of the sport over the decades.

Comparison of Merckx vs Cavendish

While Merckx’s record was eventually broken, it’s important to consider the different eras and contexts in which these achievements were made. Merckx’s stage wins were a part of a broader dominance in the Tour, as he was often competing for overall victories and points classifications, in addition to stage wins. Cavendish, on the other hand, is primarily a specialist in sprint stages, focusing on winning specific stages rather than the general classification.

The breaking of Merckx’s record by Cavendish was met with respect and admiration from the cycling community, including Merckx himself, who congratulated Cavendish on his achievement. Merckx acknowledged that records are meant to be broken and expressed his admiration for Cavendish’s tenacity and skill.

Style and impact of Eddy Merckx

Merckx was known for his aggressive racing style, rarely content to simply win a race but instead seeking to dominate his competitors. His all-around ability – excelling in time trials, climbing, and sprinting – made him a complete rider. His influence on cycling was profound, inspiring a generation of cyclists with his relentless approach to the sport.

“The Cannibal”

Merckx earned the nickname “The Cannibal” because of his relentless pursuit of victory in every race he entered. It was a young girl, the daughter of his old Peugeot teammate Christian Raymond, who gave him the name. The cyclists were on the start line and Christian said to her: “This guy won’t let us win anything – he wants everything for himself.” She said: “So he’s a cannibal.”

Later life

After retiring from professional cycling in 1978, Merckx remained deeply involved in the sport. He founded a bicycle manufacturing company, Eddy Merckx Cycles, which became known for producing high-quality racing bikes. Merckx also served as a coach and mentor to younger riders and was involved in organizing cycling events.

The legacy of Eddy Merckx

Eddy Merckx’s legacy in the world of cycling is unparalleled. His career statistics are staggering, with 525 victories to his name, including major grand tours, classics, and other prestigious races. He is celebrated not only for his achievements but also for his sportsmanship, passion, and contributions to the sport.

Honors and recognition

Merckx has received numerous honors throughout his life, including:

• Commander of the Order of Leopold (1974), one of Belgium’s highest honors.
• Induction into various Halls of Fame, including the UCI Hall of Fame.
• Numerous awards recognizing his contribution to cycling and sport in general.

Controversies surrounding Eddy Merckx

Eddy Merckx’s illustrious career was not entirely free from controversy, particularly concerning the issue of doping, which has long been a shadow over professional cycling. Despite his overwhelming success and reputation as a dominant force in the sport, Merckx was involved in several incidents related to performance-enhancing drugs. However, the context and details of these incidents are important to understand.

Doping incidents

1. 1969 Giro d’Italia

The first significant doping scandal involving Merckx occurred during the 1969 Giro d’Italia, which he was leading at the time. After the 16th stage, Merckx tested positive for a banned stimulant called fencamfamine. He was expelled from the race, and the incident caused a major uproar in the cycling world. Merckx vehemently denied taking any banned substances, claiming that the test result was either a mistake or the result of sabotage. Despite his protests, the disqualification stood, and he lost what would have been his second Giro victory.

2. 1973 Milan–San Remo

In 1973, Merckx again tested positive, this time for norephedrine, a stimulant, after winning Milan–San Remo. However, the circumstances were somewhat murky. Merckx insisted that the substance was in a medication he had taken unknowingly, and after some debate, the Italian Cycling Federation eventually exonerated him, and he retained his victory.

3. 1977 Flèche Wallonne

Towards the end of his career, in 1977, Merckx was involved in another doping case after the Flèche Wallonne race. He tested positive for pemoline, a stimulant. This time, Merckx admitted to using the substance, claiming it was part of a treatment for a recurring muscle injury. Despite this admission, it added to the controversies surrounding his career.

Context and reputation

While these incidents certainly marred Merckx’s career, it’s important to place them in the broader context of professional cycling at the time. Doping was widespread in the sport during the 1960s and 1970s, with many cyclists resorting to various substances to cope with the immense physical demands of racing. Testing methods were also less sophisticated and less consistent than they are today, leading to controversies and disputes over the validity of some test results.

Merckx’s positive tests were relatively few compared to the sheer number of races he competed in and won. Furthermore, his extraordinary talent and work ethic were widely recognized, and most observers believe that his success was primarily due to his natural ability and relentless drive rather than reliance on performance-enhancing drugs.

Consequences of the controversies

Despite these doping incidents, Merckx’s legacy as one of the greatest cyclists of all time remains largely intact. He is still revered for his achievements, and the doping controversies, while noted, have not significantly tarnished his reputation in the long term. Many fans and experts view Merckx as a product of his time, acknowledging that while he was involved in some doping scandals, this was part of a broader, systemic issue in cycling during that era.

In interviews later in life, Merckx has spoken out against doping and expressed regret over the controversies that touched his career. He has also emphasized the importance of clean competition and the need for stricter regulations to preserve the integrity of the sport.

Summing up Eddy Merckx

While the doping allegations and positive tests are part of Merckx’s history, they’re generally viewed in the context of the era he competed in. The cycling world of the 1960s and 1970s had different standards and practices compared to today. Merckx’s legacy, while not unblemished, remains strong due to the sheer scale of his achievements and his impact on the sport. He is celebrated for his versatility, excelling in both stage races and one-day classics. His aggressive racing style and numerous records have left an indelible mark on the sport of cycling. He makes an extremely worthy addition to my series on Famous Belgians.

Recommended watching and reading

Here are some cycling documentaries and books that I have greatly enjoyed which touch on Eddy Merckx:

• “Tour de France: Unchained” (Netflix) closely follows all those involved in the Tour, revealing the many challenges of a race that has become a real international symbol. It goes behind the scenes of the 21 stages of the 2022 and 2023 Tour de France: amid the scandals, low blows and thirst for glory; amid the dramatic falls and historic breakaways; amid the withdrawals and desire to win: the series dives back into the fierce battle of the riders for the yellow jersey!
• “Mark Cavendish: Never Enough“ (Netflix) charts the rise, fall and unexpected comeback of a genuine sporting great. At the end of 2016, Cavendish required just four stage wins to equal the great Eddy Merckx’s 41-year-old record of 34 stage wins and cement his legacy. Instead, he got five agonizing years of injury, illness and depression instead. Yet he came back in the 2021 Tour de France with a performance that shocked the world of cycling. The movie is an uplifting profile in resilience and self-belief.
• “The Greatest Show on Earth” (YouTube) is a classic cycling documentary from 50 years ago, which follows the 1974 Giro D’Italia won by Eddy Merckx.
• “Eddy Merckx – La Course en Tete” (YouTube) is also from 1974 and focuses purely on the achievements and family life of Merckx during that year.
• Two excellent written biographies are Eddy Merckx: The Cannibal by Daniel Friebe, and Half Man, Half Bike by William Fotheringham.
• The Beast, the Emperor, and the Milkman is a book by Harry Pearson that I really enjoyed and have reviewed. It focuses on some of the other great Flemish cyclists over the years.

Denzil Walton

I created Discovering Belgium in 2011 to share the country’s hidden stories, fascinating places, and remarkable people. Through articles, photography, and audio walks, I share discoveries that reveal Belgium beyond the obvious. Hope you enjoy this site.