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Merckx, Baron Eddy (born June 17, 1945 in Meensel-Kiezegem, Belgium) is considered by many to be the greatest cyclist of the 20th century and is often called the Einstein of the two-wheelers or The Cannibal. Another nickname of Eddy Merckx was Le Géant, conceived by Jacques Goddet. He is the five-time champion of the two most important races in professional cycling, the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia, and is one of only four cyclists to have won all three of the major Tours (Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana). He won more than 485 races during his professional career. In 1996, Merckx was awarded the title of Baron in his home country of Belgium.
In his Tour de France debut in 1969, Merckx won the yellow jersey (general classification), the green jersey (best sprinter) and the red polka-dotted jersey (best climber in the mountain stages), No other cyclist has achieved this trifecta. If the young riders' white jersey (for best rider in the Tour that is under 25 years of age) had existed at that time, Merckx would have won that as well, as he had only just turned 24.
Other racers called him the Cannibal because Merckx refused to ride tactically, preferring to go flat out at all times, and wanted to win every single race he participated in. During his peak years as a racer, he is said to have cycled over 35,000 km a year. While climbing the steep, severe Mont Ventoux in 1970 to a stage win, he rode so strongly and pushed himself so hard that after he finished, oxygen was administered.
In 1975, he attempted to win his sixth Tour de France, but became a victim of violence in sports. Many Frenchmen were upset that a Belgian might beat the record of five wins set by Frenchman Jacques Anquetil. Merckx held the yellow jersey for 8 days of the race, which raised his record to 95 total days, but during stage 14 a spectator leapt from the crowd and punched him in the kidneys. He kept racing with a double fracture and took medications. The pain in combination with the medicine caused him to fall during the race. He eventually ran out of energy and lost his lead but on the last stage he showed one last sign of defiance by sprinting ahead of the peleton. He would never win the Tour de France again.
In addition to his other achievements, Merckx set the hour speed record in Mexico City in 1972; is one of the few cyclists to win Paris-Roubaix, the Hell of the North, three times; and won 17 six-day races. He retired from racing in 1978. His son Axel is currently a racer and rode in the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Tour de France and won the 2000 Belgian national championships.
Despite his impressive victories, Merckx was not immune to injuries. In 1969 he crashed very badly in a derny race towards the end of the season. A pacer and a cyclist fell in front of Merckx's pacer, and caused both he and Merckx to crash. Merckx's pacer was killed instantly, and Merckx suffered a bad concussion and fell unconscious. This accident cracked a vertebrae and twisted his pelvis. He admitted in interviews that he was never able to ride bicycles the same way he used to due to the injuries. We can only guess how many more races he would have won if not for the injuries sustained from this crash.
Eddy Merckx is now a bicycle manufacturer and race commentator. He enjoys life and is rather heavier than when he was racing. When asked for his advice to younger riders who wanted to become professionals, he is reputed to have simply said, "Ride lots."
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