Eddy Merckx

Édouard Louis Joseph Merckx was born in Meensel-Kiezegem, Brabant, Belgium, on 17 June 1945 to Jules Merckx and Jenny Pittomvils. Merckx was the first-born of the family. In September 1946, the family moved to Sint-Pieters-Woluwe, in Brussels, Belgium, in order to take over a grocery shop that had been up for lease. In May 1948, Jenny gave birth to twins: a boy, Michel, and a girl, Micheline. As a child Eddy was hyperactive and was always playing outside. Eddy was a competitive child and played several sports, including basketball, football, table tennis and boxing, the latter in which he won some local boxing tournaments. He even played lawn tennis for the local junior team. However, Merckx claimed he knew he wanted to be a cyclist at the age of four and that his first memory was a crash on his bike when he was the same age. Merckx began riding a bike at the age of three or four and would ride to school every day, beginning at age eight. Merckx would imitate his cycling idol Stan Ockers with his friends when they rode bikes together. In summer 1961, Merckx bought his first racing license and competed in his first official race a month after he turned sixteen, coming in sixth place. He rode in twelve more races before winning his first, at Petit-Enghien, on 1 October 1961. He finished the season with 23 victories to his name. The following month, he came twelfth in the individual road race at the Tokyo Olympics. Merckx remained an amateur until April 1965, and finished his amateur career with eighty wins to his credit. == Professional career ==

1965–1967: Solo–Superia and Peugeot–BP–Michelin 1965: First professional season Merckx turned professional on 29 April 1965 when he signed with Rik Van Looy's Belgian team, . He won his first race in Vilvoorde, beating Emile Daems. On 1 August, Merckx finished second in the Belgian national championships, which qualified him for the men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships. Raphaël Géminiani, the manager of the Bic cycling team, approached Merckx at the event and offered him 2,500 francs a month to join the team the following season. Merckx chose to sign; however, since he was a minor the contract was invalid. After finishing the road race in 29th position, Merckx returned to Belgium and discussed his plans for the next season with his manager Jean Van Buggenhout. Van Buggenhout helped orchestrate a move that sent Merckx to the French-based Peugeot–BP–Michelin for 20,000 francs a month. Merckx elected to leave due to the way he was treated by his teammates, in particular Van Looy. Merckx started the Milan–San Remo and was seen as a 120–1 favorite to win the race. He attacked on the Capo Berta and again on the Poggio, leaving only Gianni Motta with him. The two slowed their pace and were joined by two more riders. Merckx won the four-man sprint to the finish. His next victory came in La Flèche Wallonne after he missed out on an early break, caught up to it, and attacked from it to win the race. On 20 May, he started the Giro d'Italia, his first Grand Tour. He won the twelfth and fourteenth stages en route to finishing ninth in the general classification. He signed with Faema on 2 September for ten years worth 400,000 Belgian francs. He chose to switch over in order to be in complete control over the team he was racing for. In addition, he would not have to pay for various expenses that came with racing such as wheels and tires. The next day, Merckx started the men's road race at the 1967 UCI Road World Championships in Heerlen, Netherlands. The course consisted of ten laps of a circuit. Motta attacked on the first lap and was joined by Merckx and five other riders. The group thinned to five as they reached the finish line where Merckx was able to out-sprint Jan Janssen for first place. In doing so, he became the third rider to win the world road race amateur and professional titles. By winning the race he earned the right to wear the rainbow jersey as world champion. The twelfth stage was marred by rainy weather and featured the climbs of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo for the stage finish. He would constantly adjust the height of his seat during races to help ease the pain. 1970: A Giro–Tour double in 1970 Merckx entered the 1970 campaign nursing a case of mild tendonitis in his knee. His first major victory came in Paris–Nice where he won the general classification, along with three stages. Merckx won the Tour's opening prologue to take the race's first race leader's yellow jersey. It was also his third world title, becoming the third rider to ever be world champion three times, after Binda and Rik Van Steenbergen. 1975: Second place at the Tour With victories at Milan–San Remo and Amstel Gold Race, Merckx opened the 1975 season in good form, also winning the Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme. In the Catalan Week, Merckx lost his super domestique Bruyère, who had helped Merckx to victory in years past many times, to a broken leg. Two days following the Catalan Week, Merckx participated in the Tour of Flanders. He launched an attack with eighty kilometers to go, with only Frans Verbeeck being able to match his acceleration. Verbeeck was dropped as the race reached five kilometers remaining, allowing Merckx to take his third Tour of Flanders victory. In Paris–Roubaix, Merckx suffered a flat tire with around eighty kilometers left when a part of a leading group of four. After chasing for three kilometers, he caught the three other riders and the group rode into the finish together; De Vlaeminck won the day. Merckx won his fifth Liège–Bastogne–Liège by attacking several times in the closing portions of the race. Merckx's attitude while racing had changed: riders expected him to chase down attacks, which angered him. Notably, in the Tour de Romandie he was riding with race leader Zoetemelk as an attack occurred. Merckx refused to chase the break down, and the two lost 14 minutes. Merckx contracted a cold and, later, tonsilitis while racing in the spring campaign. This caused him to be in poor form, forcing him to not participate in the Giro d'Italia. He then rode in the Dauphiné Libéré and was not on par with Thevenet, who won the race. At the Tour de Suisse, De Vlaeminck won the race as a whole, while Merckx finished second. |alt=A cyclist holding his hands aloft. He placed second in the Tour de France's prologue. The following morning's split stage saw Merckx put time on Thevenet by attacking with Francesco Moser, Van Impe, and Zoetemelk. In day's second leg, Merckx gained time on Zoetemelk. He won the stage six individual time trial and gaining more time on Thevenet and Zoetemelk. He won the next time trial into Auch as well. During the race's eleventh stage, Merckx sent his team to set the pace early on in the stage. Reaching the final climb of the day, Merckx was on his own as his team had been used to set the pace throughout the day. On the day's final climb to Pla d'Adet, he matched an acceleration by Zoetemelk. Thevenet then launched an attack, to which Merckx could not follow and saw him lose over two minutes. After the stage Merckx switched decided to mark Thevenet for the rest of the race and make an attack on the Puy-de-Dôme. While climbing the Puy-de-Dôme, Thevenet and Van Impe attacked. Merckx followed at his own pace and kept the two riders within a hundred meters. With about 150 m remaining, Merckx was prepared to sprint to the line, but was punched in the back by a spectator, Nello Breton. He crossed the line thirty-four seconds behind Thevenet and proceeded to vomit after catching his breath. The punch left him with a large bruise. During the rest day he was found to have an inflamed liver for which he was prescribed blood thinners. The stage following the rest day featured five climbs, Merckx felt a pain on the third climb in the area of the punch and had a teammate get him an analgesic. Thevenet attacked several times on the climb of the Col des Champs, all of which Merckx countered. Merckx retaliated by speeding away on the descent. On the start of the next climb, Merckx had his Molteni teammates set the pace and he distanced himself from his competitors before the start of the final climb. However, as Merckx began the final climb he cracked. Thevenet caught and passed him with four kilometers left. Gimondi, Van Impe, and Zoetemelk passed Merckx, who finished fifth and one minute and twenty-six seconds down. The following day, Merckx caught up with the leading breakaway and wanted to push ahead, but the riders chose not to participate in the pace making, leading Merckx to sit up and get caught. He lost two more minutes to Thevenet, who attacked on the Col d'Izoard. He crashed in the next leg, breaking a cheekbone, and gained some time on Thevenet before the finish in Paris. He finished in second place, the first time he had lost a Tour in his six starts. 1976: A record seventh Milan–San Remo He opened his 1976 season with his record seventh victory in Milan–San Remo. He followed with a victory in the Catalan Week, but suffered a crash in the final stage when a spectator's bag caught his handlebars, injuring his elbow. This injury plagued his performance throughout the spring classic season. He entered the Giro d'Italia but failed to win a stage for the first time in his career. He finished the race in eighth overall while battling a saddle boil throughout the race. Following the Giro's conclusion Merckx announced that he and his team Molteni would not take part in the Tour de France. He took part in the men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships and finished in fifth position. He ended his season in October after racing for most of August. He failed to win the Super Prestige Pernod International, a competition where riders were awarded points for their placements in certain professional races, for the first time since 1968. In the first two months of his off-season, Merckx spent the majority of his time lying down. Molteni ended their sponsorship at the end of the season. 1977–1978: Fiat France and C&A (pictured during the 1954 Tour de France) became Merckx's new team manager with Fiat France for the 1977 season|alt=A cyclist posing for a photo. Fiat France became the new sponsor for Merckx's team and Raphaël Géminiani the new manager. He got his season's first victories in the Grand Prix d'Aix and Tour Méditerranéen. Merckx agreed to ride a light spring season in order to save himself for a chance at a sixth Tour victory. He took one stage at the Paris–Nice but had to withdraw from the race's final stage due to sinusitis. In the spring classics, Merckx did not win any races, with his best finish being a sixth place in the Liège–Bastogne–Liège. Before the Tour, Merckx raced both the Dauphiné Libéré and Tour de Suisse, winning one stage of the latter. He admitted his poor form and anxiety about aggravating previous injuries going into the Tour de France. He held on to second place overall for two weeks. As the race entered the Alps, Merckx began to lose more time; he lost thirteen minutes on the stage to Alpe d'Huez alone. On the stage into Saint-Étienne, Merckx attacked and gained enough time to move into sixth overall; he finished the Tour in the same position. In the time following the Tour, Merckx raced twenty-two races in a span of forty days before coming in thirty-third at the UCI Road World Championships men's road race. Merckx earned his final victory on the road on 17 September in a kermis race. In late December, Fiat France chose to end their sponsorship of Merckx in favor of building a more French centered squad. In January, the department store C&A announced that they would sponsor a new team for Merckx after their owner met Merckx at a football game. His plan for the season was to race one last Tour de France and then ride several smaller races for appearances. He raced a total of five races in the 1978 calendar. His last victory was in a track event, an omnium in Zürich, on 10 February 1978 with Patrick Sercu. His first road race came in the Grand Prix de Montauroux on 19 February. Merckx came to the front of the race and put in a large effort before swinging off and quitting the race. His best finish came in the Tour de Haut, where he managed fifth. He dropped out of Omloop Het Volk due to colitis and completed his final race on 19 March, a kermis in Kemzeke. Following the race, Merckx went on a vacation to go skiing. He returned from travel to train more, but by this point the team sponsor knew he was going to quit. Merckx announced his retirement from the sport on 18 May. He stated that the doctors advised him against racing. == Retirement ==

Following his exit from racing, Merckx opened up Eddy Merckx Cycles on 28 March 1980 in Brussels. The initial workers that were hired for the factory were trained by Ugo De Rosa, a notable bike maker, before starting. The company almost went bankrupt at one point and was also caught up in a tax repayment controversy. Merckx would spend time giving input on the models as they were being produced. Despite the financial problems the brand became highly regarded and successful, being used by several top-level cycling teams in the 1980s and 1990s. Merckx stepped down as CEO in 2008 and sold most of his shares, but continued to test the bikes that were created and had some input. Cycling journalist Sam Dansie believes that Eddy Merckx Cycles has maintained a presence as an elite bicycle due to its adoption of new methods over time. As of January 2015, the business is still based in Belgium and distributes to over twenty-five countries. Merckx managed the Belgian national team world championships for eleven years, between 1986 and 1996. He acted as the race director for the Tour of Flanders for a brief period of time. He temporarily sponsored a youth developmental team with CGER Bank, a team that featured his son Axel. He helped organize the Grand Prix Eddy Merckx, which started out as an invitation only individual time trial event, later becoming a two-man time trial event. The event folded after 2004 due to riders' lack of interest. He played a pivotal role in getting the Tour of Qatar started in 2002. In 2001 Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the former Emir of Qatar, reached out to Merckx and told him of his interest in starting a bicycle race to show off his country. In addition, Merckx also helped Qatar secure the right to host the 2016 UCI Road World Championships, as well as designing the race route for the road race. In 2015, Merckx said later that although he was not racing, he knew would still be involved with the sport "as a bike builder, first in the factory and now as an ambassador." In November 2017, it was announced that Merckx and his partner Dirk De Pauw split with Tour of Oman organizer ASO following an undisclosed dispute. == Personal life ==

Merckx during an interview in 2010|alt=Eddy Merckx talking. Merckx officially began dating Claudine Acou in April 1965. Acou was a 21-year-old teacher and daughter of the trainer of the national amateur team. Merckx asked her father for permission to marry her between track races. On 5 December 1967 Merckx married Acou after four years of courtship. She would often handle the press for her husband, who was shy. Acou gave birth to their first child, Sabrina, on 14 February 1970. Merckx skipped a team training camp to be with his wife for Sabrina's birth. Acou later gave birth to a son, Axel, who also became a professional cyclist. Merckx was brought up speaking Flemish, but was taught French in school. In 1996, King Albert II of the Belgians gave him the title of baron. In Italy, Merckx was given the title of Cavaliere. In 2011, he was named ''Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur by then French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris, having been named Chevalier'' (Knight) of the order in January 1975. Merckx has become an ambassador for the Damien The Leper Society, a foundation named after a Catholic priest, which battles leprosy and other diseases in developing countries. He was blessed by Pope John Paul II in Brussels in the 1990s. Merckx is an art lover and stated that his favorite artist is René Magritte, a surrealist. Merckx was found to have a heart condition. A cardiologist, Giancarlo Lavezzaro, found that Merckx had non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease that has killed several young athletes. In August, he reported that he lost nearly 30 kg after the procedure. In December 2024, Baron Merckx crashed while on a group bike ride and fractured his hip. He underwent surgery at the same hospital as Remco Evenepoel did the previous week. As a result of the accident, Merckx required a full hip replacement. == Legacy ==

Baron Merckx has been regarded by many as the greatest and most successful cyclist of all time. He rode well in the Grand Tours and in the one-day classics. He was a very good time trialist and climber. Due to his dominance in the sport some cycling historians refer to the period in which he raced as the "Merckx Era." During his professional career, he won 445 of the 1585 races he entered. and said: "Between us, I and Eddy Merckx have won every classic that can be won. I won Paris–Tours, Merckx won all the rest." While racing, he became the third rider to win all three Grand Tours in his career, a feat that has since been accomplished by more riders. For his career successes in the Giro d'Italia, Merckx became the first rider inducted into the race's Hall of Fame in 2012. When being inducted, Merckx was given the modern-day trophy with the winners engraved until 1974, the last year he won the race. He was given the nickname "The Cannibal" by the daughter of Christian Raymond, a teammate of Merckx's. He was criticized by opposing riders for his relentless pursuit of victory that prevented even lesser known riders from collecting a few victories. When told that he won too much, Merckx stated that "The day when I start a race without intending to win it, I won't be able to look at myself in the mirror." Records overview , has ridden the most days wearing the yellow jersey Grand Tours • Most Grand Tour wins: 11 • Most consecutive Grand Tours wins: 4 in 1972 Giro d'Italia, 1972 Tour de France, 1973 Vuelta a España & 1973 Giro d'Italia • Most Grand Tour stage wins: 64 • Most Tour de France wins: 5 in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 & 1974 (record shared with Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Induráin) • Most stage wins in 1 Tour de France: 8 in 1970 (record shared with Charles Pélissier and Freddy Maertens) • Most days in Tour de France yellow jersey : 96 • First winner of all 3 specialties in 1 Tour de France (mountain, sprint, and individual time trial) in 1974 • The only general, points and mountains classification winner in the Tour de France: 1969 • Most Tour de France combativity awards : 4 in 1969, 1970, 1974 & 1975 • Most Giro d'Italia wins: 5 in 1968, 1970, 1972, 1973 & 1974 (record shared with Alfredo Binda and Fausto Coppi) • Most days in Giro d'Italia pink jersey : 78 • The only general, points and mountains classification winner in the Giro d'Italia: 1968 Classic races • Winner of all 5 Monuments of Cycling (record shared with Rik Van Looy and Roger De Vlaeminck) • Most victories in all Monuments: 19 • The only cyclist to win 3 Monuments in 1 year multiple times: 4 times in 1969, 1971, 1972 & 1975 • The only cyclist to win all 5 Monuments more than once • Most victories in classic races: 28 • Most victories in a single classic: 7 in Milan–San Remo 1966, 1967, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1975 & 1976 • Most Liège–Bastogne–Liège wins: 5 in 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973 & 1975 • Most Gent–Wevelgem wins: 3 in 1967, 1970 & 1973 (shared record) Other , celebrating his first world title in 1967 • Most road races won by a professional cyclist: 525 • Most road races won in 1 season: 54 (of 120 entries) in 1971 • UCI World hour record : 1972 • Most UCI World Road Championships : 3 in 1967, 1971 & 1974 (record shared with Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen, Óscar Freire and Peter Sagan) • Triple Crown of Cycling winner: 1974 (record shared with Stephen Roche and Tadej Pogačar) • Monument winner, Grand Tour winner and UCI World Champion in 1 year: 1971 (record shared with Alfredo Binda, Bernard Hinault, Tadej Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel) • Most Super Prestige Pernod wins: 7 in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 & 1975 • Most Escalada a Montjuïc wins: 6 in 1966, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974 & 1975 • Most Giro di Sardegna wins: 4 in 1968, 1971, 1973 & 1975 • Most Setmana Catalana de Ciclisme wins: 2 in 1975 and 1976 (shared record) World hour record == Doping ==

) was involved in three separate doping incidents during his career|alt=A cyclist wearing a jersey that reads "Faema." Merckx was leading the 1969 Giro d'Italia after the sixteenth stage in Savona. After the stage, he went to the mobile lab that travelled with the race and conducted drug tests. His first test was positive for fencamfamine, an amphetamine, The positive test meant Merckx was to be suspended for a month. Race director Vincenzo Torriani delayed the start of the seventeenth stage in an attempt to persuade the president of the Italian Cycling Federation to allow Merckx to begin the stage. The majority of the international press believed in his innocence, stating that with his lead, it was illogical that he would use banned substances on an easy stage, with a doping test certain to follow if he was still the leader. He argued that his samples had been mishandled. Upon learning of the first test being positive in later October, he had a counter-analysis performed which was also positive. In addition, Merckx was given a month's suspension and fined 150,000 lira. On 8 May 1977, Merckx, along with several other riders, tested positive for the stimulant pemoline at La Flèche Wallonne. The group of riders was charged by the Belgian cycling federation, and were each given a 24,000 pesetas fine and a one-month suspension. The organizers stated that had to be role models", while Merckx wrote them off, claiming they were crazy. == Honours and awards ==

Titles of honour • Knight of the French Legion of Honour: 1975 • Commander of the French Legion of Honour: 2014 • Knight in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic • Silver Olympic Order: 1995 • Created Baron Merckx by Royal Decree, with devise Post Proelia Praemia: 1996 • Honorary doctorate of the university VUB: 2011 • Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee Order of Merit: 2013 • Merckx is honorary citizen of Meise, Tielt-Winge and Tervuren • Bronze Zinneke: 2006 Sport awards and honours • Belgian National Sports Merit Award: 1967 • Belgian Sportsman of the Year: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 • Tour de France Overall Combativity award: 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975 • Tour de France Stage Combativity award (14): 4 in 1975; 3 in 1970; 2 in 1969, 1974 & 1977; 1 in 1971 • PAP European Sportsperson of the Year: 1969, 1970 • Swiss : 1980, 2021 • Procyclingstats.com – All Time Wins Ranking (1st place, 276 wins) • Belgian Sportsman of the 20th Century: 1999'''''' • Reuters Worldwide Sports Personality of the Century (7th place): 1999 • Reuters General Sportsman of the Century (2nd place): 1999 • UCI Cyclist of the 20th Century: 2000 • Marca Legend: 2000 • Vincenzo Torriani Award: 2001 • Introduced in the UCI Hall of Fame: 2002 • UCI Top 100 of All Time: (1st place, 24 510 points) • Memoire du Cyclisme – Ranking of the Greatest Cyclists (1st place): 2002 • Bleacher Report – The 30 Most Dominant Athletes of All Time (20th): 2010 • Bleacher Report – Tour de France All-Time Top 25 Riders (1st place): 2011 • Italian Sport and Civilization Award: 2011 • First Member Giro Hall of Fame: 2012 • Topito – Top 15 Greatest Cyclists Ever (1st place): 2012 • ''L'Équipe'' Trophée Champion des Champions de Légende: 2014 • Rouleur Hall of Fame: 2018 • Velonews The Greatest Cyclists of All Time (1st place): 2019 • Wiggle The Best Cyclists Ever Rank (1st place): 2020 • Eurosport Greatest General Classification Cyclist of all Time: 2020 • CyclingRanking – Overall Ranking (1st place): 2022 • Vélo d'Or honorary award: 2023 • ESPN Lifetime Achievement Award: 2025 Places and statues • Monument in Stavelot: 1993 • Vélodrome Eddy Merckx, Mourenx: 1999 • Eddy Merckx metro station, Brussels: 2003 • Sports complex, Vlaams Wielercentrum Eddy Merckx, Gent: 2006 • Monument in Meise: 2015 • Statue in Meensel-Kiezegem: 2015 • Square Eddy Merckx in Sint-Pieters-Woluwe: 2019 • Monument in Petit-Enghien: 2023 Events and awards • Golden Bike Eddy Merckx: a cycle race for novices from 1983 to 2008 • Grand Prix Eddy Merckx: a professional cycle race from 1980 to 2004 • Eddy Merckx Classics'''''' • Start of the 2019 Tour de France in Brussels in honour of Eddy Merckx • From 2023, the Vélo d'Or "Eddy Merckx trophy" is awarded for the best classics cyclist'''''' == In popular culture ==

Music • The single Vas-Y Eddy (1967) by Jean Saint-Paul is notable for being the first recorded song about Merckx. • Eddy Prend Le Maillot Jaune, a song by Pierre-André Gil was released after his first Tour de France victory. • The single Bravo Eddy! by Jean Narcy was released in 1970. • Eddy Est Imbattable! by Pierre-André Gil was released in 1971. • Merckx is mentioned in the 1974 song Paris-New York, New York-Paris by Jacques Higelin. • Eddy Merckx is a song by the Belgian band Sttellla on the album ''Il faut tourner l'Apache'' in 1998. Films and series • A 1973 Danish short film was made, Eddy Merckx in the Vicinity of a Cup of Coffee, starring Merckx and Walter Godefroot. • In the 1973 comedy film The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob, Merckx was cited by Louis de Funès as the author of Che Guevara's famous quote: "The revolution is like a bicycle: when it doesn't move forward, it falls". • The 1974 documentary film La Course en Tête by Joël Santoni looks at the racing and private life of Merckx. • Jørgen Leth's 1974 film The Stars and the Watercarriers highlights Merckx performance in the 1973 Giro d'Italia and the often-overlooked domestiques who support the star cyclist. • The 1976 Danish documentary film A Sunday in Hell focuses on the contenders Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck, Freddy Maertens, and Francesco Moser in the Paris–Roubaix race of that year. • The 1978 RTBF documentary ''Au Temps d'Eddy'' looks back at the career of Merckx. • Merckx has a cameo in the 1985 sports drama film American Flyers, starring Kevin Costner. • Merckx is the rival – more or less fantasized – of Benoît Poelvoorde in the 2001 film Le Vélo de Ghislain Lambert by Philippe Harel. • In 2005, he appears in episode 39b of the second season of Space Goofs, where his character provides the Earth's core with energy, pedalling a stationary bike. • Merckx has a cameo in the 2012 French-Belgian comedy film Torpedo by Matthieu Donck. • The Flemish movie, set in the seventies Allez, Eddy was released in 2012. • In the documentary The King of Mont Ventoux (2012), Merckx rides a virtual race against other former stage winners Jean François Bernard, Marco Pantani, Richard Virenque and Juan Manuel Gárate. • Eddy Merckx is the subject of an autobiographical fiction written by Christophe Van Staen, entitled Eddy Merckx, Nobel Prize? (Lamiroy, 2019) • The documentary 1969 - Following Merckx (2022) attempts to recreate Merckx's legendary solo breakaway during Stage 17 of the 1969 Tour de France, providing insights into his strategic strength and determination. • Merckx, a documentary film with rare archive footage and interview fragments, was released in January 2025. Comic books • ''Les Fabuleux Exploits d'Eddy Merckx'', a celebrity comic, was released in 1973. It was translated in different languages. • Eddy Merckx appears in the comic strip San-Antonio Fait un Tour published by Fleuve Noir in 1973. • He appears as a speedy messenger in the comic book Asterix in Belgium of the Asterix series by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, published in 1979. • A tribute to Eddy Merckx is paid in the 1987 Boule et Bill album nr. 24, Billets de Bill. • Merckx also appears in album 79 (1988) of the Robert en Bertrand series and album 247 (1996) of the Spike and Suzy series. • Another tribute is paid in one of the adventures of Donald Duck, who must compete against the champion of his uncle's rival: "Dydy Berkxz". == Books on Merckx ==

In English • The Champion Eddy Merckx by Claude le Boul in 1987, Ludion, 71 p. (Collected paintings; English, Dutch, French) • Eddy Merckx: The Greatest Cyclist of the 20th Century by Rik Vanwalleghem and Steven Hawkins in 1996, VeloPress, 216 p. (English) • • • • • • Eddy Merckx 525 by Frederik Backelandt & Karl Vannieuwkerke in 2012, Kannibaal, 224 p. (English, Dutch) • • • • • ''Merckx 69: Celebrating the World's Greatest Cyclist in his Finest Year'' by Tonny Strouken and Jan Maes in 2015, Bloomsbury Publishing 180 p. (English, Dutch, French) • The Dream of Eddy Merckx by Freddy Merckx in 2019, Sportliteratuur Uitgeverij, 56 p. (English, Dutch, French) • De Rivals of Merckx by Filip Osselaer in 2019, Borgerhoff & Lamberigts, 208 p. (English, Dutch, French) • 1969 – The Year of Eddy Merckx by Johny Vansevenant in 2019, Lannoo, 432 p. (English, Dutch, French) • Eddy Merckx: Biography Story for Kids by Willie M. Mone in 2024, Independently Published, 80 p. (English) • ''Eddy Merckx Biography: The Cannibal's Unstoppable Ride'' by W Alvin M. James in 2024, 71 p. (English) In other languages • Eddy Merckx by Louis Clicteur & Lucien Berghmans in 1967, 164 p. (Dutch) • Mijn Wegjournaal by Louis Clicteur in 1971, 176 p. (Dutch) • En Toen Kwam Eddy Merckx by Jan Cornand & André Blancke in 1975, 216 p. (Dutch) • En Toen Ging Eddy Merckx by Jan Cornand in 1978, 110 p. (Dutch) • Eddy Merckx Story by Jan Cornand in 1978, 111 p. (Dutch) • Toen Merckx er Nog Was André Blancke in 1979, 111 p. (Dutch) • Eddy Merckx – Mijn Levensverhaal by Robert Janssens in 1989, 208 p. (Dutch) • Eddy Merckx – De Mens achter de Kannibaal by Rik Vanwalleghem in 1993, 216 p. (Dutch, French) • Spraakmakende biografie van Eddy Merckx by Philippe Brunel in 2005, 192 p. (Dutch) • De Mannen achter Merckx : het Verhaal van Faema en Molteni by Patrick Cornillie and Johny Vansevenant in 2006, 304 p. (Dutch, French) • Fietspassie/La Passion du Vélo by Toon Claes and Eddy Merckx in 2008, 196 p. (Dutch, French) • ''De Zomer van '69, hoe Merckx won van Armstrong'' by Patrick Cornillie in 2009, 343 p. (Dutch) • Merckxissimo by Karl Vannieuwkerke & Stephan Vanfleteren in 2009, 144 p. (Dutch, French) • Eddy Merckx en Ik – Herinneringen aan de Kannibaal by Stefaan Van Laere in 2010, 184 p. (Dutch) • Eddy Merckx – Getuigenissen van Jan Wauters by Jan Wauters in 2010, 176 p. (Dutch) • Mannen tegen Merckx – van Van Looy tot Maertens by Johny Vansevenant in 2012 (Dutch) • Eddy Merckx – Een leven by Daniel Friebe in 2013, 272 p. (Dutch) • Eddy Merckx – De biografie by Johny Vansevenant in 2015, 400 p. (Dutch, French) • Eddy! Eddy! Eddy! De Tour in België by Geert de Vriese in 2019, 256 p. (Dutch) • 50 jaar Merckx – Jubileum van een Tourlegende by Tonny Strouken in 2020, 140 p. (Dutch, French) • Merckx 80 by Guy Roger & Robert Janssens in 2025, 264 p. (Dutch) • De Ultieme Biografie - Ik Wilde Altijd Winnen by Johny Vansevenant in 2025, 432 p. (Dutch) • Maestro Merckx by Stefaan van Laere and Robert Janssens in 2025, 174 p. (Dutch, French) • ''L'Irrésistible Ascension d'un Jeune Champion'' by Pierre Thonon in 1968, 170 p. (French) • Merckx ou la Rage de Vaincre by Léon Zitrone in 1969, 208 p. (French) ASIN B0061R9A8O • Qui êtes-vous Eddy Merckx? by Marc Jeuniau in 1969, 112 p. (French) ASIN B008AWK3MK • Du Maillot Arc en Ciel au Maillot Jaune by Pierre Thonon in 1970, 167 p. (French) • Le Phénomène Eddy Merckx et ses Rivaux by François Terbeen in 1971, 185 p. (French) ASIN B003WRURD8 • Face à Face avec Eddy Merckx by Marc Jeuniau in 1971, 111 p. (French) • Mes Carnets de Route en 1971 by Marc Jeuniau in 1971, 159 p. (French) • ''Plus d'un Tour dans Mon Sac: Mes Carnets de Route 1972'' by Marc Jeuniau in 1972, 158 p. (French) • Eddy Merckx cet Inconnu by Roger Bastide in 1972, 124 p. (French) • ''Les Exploits Fabuleux d'Eddy Merckx'' by Yves Duval and Christian Lippens in 1973, 48 p. (Comic book in French) • Mes 50 Victoires en 1973: Mes carnets de route 1973 by René Jacobs in 1973, 159 p. (French) • Merckx / Ocana : Duel au Sommet by François Terbeen in 1974, 217 p. (French) • Coureur Cycliste: Un Homme et son Métier by Eddy Merckx and Pierre Chany in 1974, 248 p. (French) • Ma Chasse aux Maillots Rose, Jaune, Arc-en-Ciel: Mes Carnets de route 1974 by Eddy Merckx, Marc Jeuniau, Pierre Depré in 1974, 158 p. (French) ASIN B0014MKH4C • ''Le Livre d'Or de Eddy Merckx'' by Georges Pagnoud in 1976, 111 p. (French) • ''Eddy Merckx l'Homme du Défi'' by Marc Jeuniau in 1977, 220 p. (French) • ''La Roue de la Fortune, du Champion à l'Homme d'Affaires'' by Joël Godaert in 1989, 208 p. (French) • ''Eddy Merckx, l'Épopée'' by Théo Mathy in 1999, 159 p. (French) • Merckx Intime by Philippe Brunel in 2002, 159 p. (French) • Eddy Merckx, Ma Véritable Histoire by Stéphane Thirion in 2006, 200 p. (French) • ''Eddy Merckx, les Tours de France d'un Champion Unique'' by Théo Mathy in 2008, 200 p. (French) • Tour 75 : Le Rêve du Cannibale by Laurent Watiez in 2010, 103 p. (French) • ''Dans l'Ombre d'Eddy Merckx – Les Hommes qui ont Couru contre le Cannibale'' by Johny Vansevenant in 2012, 384 p. (French) • • ''Coup de Foudre dans l'Aubisque: Eddy Merckx dans la Légende'' by Bertrand Lucq in 2015, 136 p. (French) • Eddy : Ma Saison des Classiques en Version 1973 by François Paoletti in 2015, 212 p. (French) • Eddy Merckx, c’est Beaucoup plus qu’Eddy Merckx by Christophe Penot in 2015, 48 p. (French) • ''Sur les Traces d'Eddy Merckx'' by Jean-Louis Lahaye and ean-Louis Lahaye in 2016, 250 p. (French) • ''La Fabuleuse Carrière d'Eddy Merckx en un Survol'' by Michel Crepel in 2016, 202 p. (French) • Eddy Été 69 by Jean-Paul Vespini in 2019, 191 p. (French) • ''On m'Appelait le Cannibale'' by Stéphane Thirion in 2019, 255 p. (French) • ''Eddy Merckx : Analyse d'une Légende'' by Jean Cléder in 2019, 224 p. (French) • Merckx-Ocana: Le Bel Ete 1971 by Pascal Sergent in 2021, 153 p. (French) • Inaccessible Merckx by Guy Roger in 2024, 279 p. (French, German, Spanish) • E non Chiamatemi (più) Cannibale. Vita e Imprese di Eddy Merckx by Angelo De Lorenzi in 2003, 153 p. (Italian) • Il Sessantotto a Pedali. Al Giro con Eddy Merckx by Francesco Ricci in 2008, 151 p. (Italian) • Fausto Coppi Eddy Merckx. Due campionissimi a confronto by Luciano Boccaccini in 2011, 112 p. (Italian) • ''Chiedimi chi Era Merckx. Le Stagioni di Eddy dall'Esordio al Congedo'' by Porreca G. Paolo in 2013, 237 p. (Italian) • Merckx, il Figlio del Tuono (Merckx, the Son of Thunder) by Claudio Gregori in 2016, 570 p. (Italian) • Gimondi & Merckx. La Sfida by Giorgio Martino in 2019, 159 p. (Italian) • Eddy Merckx by Helmer Boelsen in 1973, 128 p. (German) • Die Nacht, in der Ich Eddy Merckx Bezwang by Marc Locatelli in 2019, 48 p. (German) ==Career achievements==