Eddy Merckx: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Revision as of 12:33, 21 May 2024 edit DocWatson42 (talk \| contribs) Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers 213,622 edits →In English: Corrected an instance of capitalization. Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit ← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 17:13, 13 October 2024 edit undo Ahecht (talk \| contribs) Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Page movers, IP block exemptions, New page reviewers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers, Template editors 62,155 edits m Reduce WP:PEIS (via WP:JWB)
(29 intermediate revisions by 26 users not shown)
Line 9: \| alt = Merckx holding a bicycle. His shirt says "Molteni Arcore", and his hair is slicked back. \| fullname = Édouard Louis Joseph Merckx \| nickname = ''{{lang\|fr\|Le Cannibale}} <br /> {{lang\|nl\|De Kannibaal''}} (The Cannibal)<ref name="G 69 Fland">{{cite news\|first=Suze\|last=Clemitson\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/100-tours-100-tales/2014/apr/04/cycling-eddy-merckx-1969-tour-flanders\|title=Remembering how Eddy Merckx won at home in the 1969 Tour of Flanders \|date=4 April 2014\|work=[[The Guardian]]\|access-date=10 May 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510153401/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/100-tours-100-tales/2014/apr/04/cycling-eddy-merckx-1969-tour-flanders\|archive-date=10 May 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref> \| birth_date = {{Birth date and age\|df=yes\|1945\|6\|17}} \| birth_place = [[Meensel-Kiezegem]], Belgium Line 111: }} '''Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx''' (born 17 June 1945), known as '''Eddy Merckx''' ({{IPA-\|nl\|~~mɛr~~ˈɛdi ˈmɛr(ə)ks\|lang}}, {{IPA-\|fr\|ɛdi mɛʁks\|lang}}~~; born 17 June 1945~~), is a Belgian former professional road and track cyclist racer who is the most successful rider in the history of competitive cycling. His victories include an unequalled eleven [[Grand Tour (cycling)\|Grand Tours]] (five [[Tour de France\|Tours de France]], five [[Giro d'Italia\|Giros d'Italia]], and a [[Vuelta a España]]), all five [[Cycling monument\|Monuments]], setting the [[hour record]], three [[UCI Road World Championships\|World Championships]], every major one-day race other than [[Paris–Tours]], and extensive victories on the track. Born in [[Meensel-Kiezegem]], [[Province of Brabant\|Brabant]], Belgium, he grew up in [[~~Woluwe-Saint-Pierre\|~~Woluwe-Saint-Pierre]] where his parents ran a grocery store. He played several sports, but found his true passion in cycling. Merckx got his first bicycle at the age of three or four and competed in his first race in 1961. His first victory came at [[Petit-Enghien]] in October 1961. After winning eighty races as an amateur racer, he turned professional on 29 April 1965 when he signed with {{UCI team code\|Solo\|1965}}. His first major victory came in the [[Milan–San Remo]] a year later, after switching to {{UCI team code\|Peugeot\|1966}}. After the 1967 season, Merckx moved to {{UCI team code\|Faemino\|1968}}, and won the [[1968 Giro d'Italia\|Giro d'Italia]], his first Grand Tour victory. Four times between 1970 and 1974 Merckx completed a Grand Tour double. His final double also coincided with winning the elite [[1974 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race\|men's road race]] at the [[1974 UCI Road World Championships\|UCI Road World Championships]] to make him the first rider to accomplish cycling's [[Triple Crown of Cycling\|Triple Crown]]. Merckx broke the hour record in October 1972, extending the record by almost 800 metres. Line 129: 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.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2012\|p=31}} He rode in twelve more races before winning his first, at [[Petit-Enghien]], on 1 October 1961.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=15–16}}{{sfn\|Friebe\|2012\|p=108}}<ref name="VN EM 70" /> In the winter following his first victory, he trained with former racer [[Félicien Vervaecke]] at the local [[velodrome]].{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2012\|p=32}} Merckx won his second victory on 11 March 1962 in a [[Kermesse (cycling)\|kermis]] race.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2012\|p=32}} Merckx competed in 55 races during the 1962 calendar year; as he devoted more time to cycling, his grades at school began to decline.{{sfn\|Friebe\|2012\|pp=108–109}} After winning the Belgian amateur road race title, Merckx declined an offer from his school's headmaster to have his exams postponed, and dropped out of school.{{sfn\|Friebe\|2012\|p=109–110}}<ref name="EN H">{{cite news\|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Eddy_Merckx.aspx\|title=Eddy Merckx \|date=2008\|work=Encyclopedia of World Biography \|publisher=HighBeam Research\|access-date=10 May 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510171316/http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Eddy_Merckx.aspx\|archive-date=10 May 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref> He finished the season with 23 victories to his name.<ref name="EN H" /> Merckx ~~was~~won ~~selected~~the ~~for~~[[UCI Road World Championships – Men's amateur road race\|amateur road race]] at the [[1964 UCI Road World Championships]] in [[Sallanches]], France.{{sfn\|Heijmans\|Mallon\|2011\|p=131}}<ref name="LS WARR">{{cite news\|first=Gigi\|last=Boccacini\|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,avanzata/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,9/articleid,0099_01_1964_0203_0009_10702482/\|title=Invano si è sperato nella volata di Armani\|language=it\|date=6 September 1964\|page=9\|newspaper=La Stampa\|publisher=Editrice La Stampa\|access-date=27 May 2012\|trans-title=It is hoped in vain sprint Armani}}</ref> The following month, he came twelfth in [[Cycling at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's individual road race\|~~men's~~the individual road race]] at the [[1964 Summer Olympics\|Tokyo Olympics]]~~, where he finished in twelfth position~~.<ref name="CDS 64 ORR">{{cite web\|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=12744&p=1#page/5/mode/1up\|title=Prova su strada\|newspaper=Corriere dello Sport\|date=23 October 1964\|page=4\|access-date=7 July 2013\|language=it\|trans-title=Road test\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510172852/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=12744&p=1\|archive-date=10 May 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sports-reference">{{cite Sports-Reference \|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/me/eddy-merckx-1.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418111636/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/me/eddy-merckx-1.html \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=18 April 2020 \|title=Eddy Merckx \|access-date=22 August 2014}}</ref> Later in the season, he won the amateur road race at the [[1964 UCI Road World Championships\|UCI Road World Championships]] in [[Sallanches]], France.{{sfn\|Heijmans\|Mallon\|2011\|p=131}}<ref name="LS WARR">{{cite news\|first=Gigi\|last=Boccacini\|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,avanzata/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,9/articleid,0099_01_1964_0203_0009_10702482/\|title=Invano si è sperato nella volata di Armani\|language=it\|date=6 September 1964\|page=9\|newspaper=La Stampa\|publisher=Editrice La Stampa\|access-date=27 May 2012\|trans-title=It is hoped in vain sprint Armani}}</ref> Merckx remained an amateur until April 1965, and finished his amateur career with eighty wins to his credit.<ref name="VN 60">{{cite web\| title= Happy Birthday, Eddy!\| date= 17 June 2005\| url= http://velonews.competitor.com/2005/06/news/happy-birthday-eddy_8224\| access-date = 13 June 2008 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510150857/http://velonews.competitor.com/2005/06/news/happy-birthday-eddy_8224\|work=VeloNews\|publisher=Competitor Group\|archive-date=10 May 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="L'Équipe 13 March 2007">L'Équipe, France, 13 March 2007</ref> == Professional career == Line 142: ====1966: First Monument victory==== [[File:Eddy Merckx 1966.jpg\|thumb\|left\|Merckx finished in twelfth position in the men's road race at the [[1966 UCI Road World Championships]].\|alt=A man on a bicycle, with a car behind him.]] In March 1966, Merckx entered his first major stage race as a professional rider, the [[Paris–Nice]].{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=51}} He took the race lead for a single stage before losing it to [[Jacques Anquetil]] and eventually coming in fourth overall.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=51}} [[Milan–San Remo]], his first participation in one of cycling's Monuments, was the next event on the calendar for Merckx. There, he succeeded in staying with the main field as the race entered the final climb of the [[Poggio di San Remo\|Poggio]].{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=52}} He attacked on the climb and reduced the field to a group of eleven, himself included.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|pp=51–52}} Merckx was advised by his manager to hold off on sprinting full-out to the finish line until as late as possible.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=52}} ~~Three~~At the end of the race, three other riders ~~reached~~approached the line with him~~; Merckx~~, ~~however,~~and Merckx beat them in the sprint.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=52}} In the following weeks, he raced the [[Tour of Flanders]] and [[Paris–Roubaix]], the most important [[cobbled classics]]; in the former he crashed and in the latter he had a punctured tire.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=57}} At the [[1966 UCI Road World Championships]] he finished twelfth in the road race after suffering a cramp in the closing kilometers.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=57}} He finished the 1966 season with a total of 20 wins, including his first stage race win at the Tour of Morbihan.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=57}} ====1967: Second straight Milan–San Remo and world champion==== Line 156: ====1968: First Grand Tour victory==== Merckx's first victory with his new team came in a stage win at the Giro di Sardegna.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=71}} At Paris–Nice, he was forced to quit the race due to a knee injury he sustained during the event.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=72}} He failed to win his third consecutive Milan–San Remo and missed out at the Tour of Flanders the following weekend.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=72}} His next victory came at Paris–Roubaix when he bested [[Herman Van Springel]] in a race that was plagued by poor weather and several punctures to the competing riders.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=72}} [[File:Merckx, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Giro d'Italia 1968.jpg\|thumb\|left\|During the twelfth stage of the [[1968 Giro d'Italia]], Merckx caught the leading group, passed them, and rode solo to the stage finish atop the [[Tre Cime di Lavaredo]] (pictured) in poor weather to win the stage and take the race lead.\|alt=Merckx crouched over his bike, ascending a snowy mountain pass.]] At the behest of his team, Merckx raced the [[1968 Giro d'Italia\|Giro d'Italia]] instead of the [[1968 Tour de France\|Tour de France]].{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=72}} He won the race's second stage after he attacked with one kilometer to go.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|pp=72–73}}<ref name="BRI 1968 G">{{cite web\|url=http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1968.html \|title=1968 Giro d'Italia \|work= Bike Race Info \|publisher=Dog Ear Publishing \|last1=McGann \|first1=Bill \|last2=McGann \|first2=Carol \|access-date=6 August 2012\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010145018/http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1968.html\|archive-date=10 October 2014\|url-status=live}}</ref> The twelfth stage was marred by rainy weather and featured the climbs of the [[Tre Cime di Lavaredo]] for the stage finish.<ref name="BRI 1968 G" /> By the time Merckx had reached the penultimate climb, there was a six-man group at the front of the race with a nine-minute advantage.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=73}} Merckx attacked and was able to get a sizable distance between himself and the group he left before he stopped to change his wheel in order to slow down due to orders from his team manager.<ref name="BRI 1968 G" />{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=74}} Merckx got back on his bike and caught the leading breakaway and rode past it to the finish, where he won the stage and took the race lead.<ref name="BRI 1968 G" />{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=75}} Merckx went on to win the race, along with the [[Points classification in the Giro d'Italia\|points classification]] and [[Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia\|mountains classification]].<ref name="BRI 1968 G" /> In the [[Volta a Catalunya]], Merckx took the race lead from Gimondi in the race's time trial stage and won the event as a whole.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|pp=76–77}} He finished the season with 32 wins in the 129 races he entered.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=293}} Line 171 ⟶ 170: [[File:Derny.jpg\|thumb\|left\|Fernand Wambst, who was regarded as a great [[derny]] driver, agreed to pace Merckx in the omnium events in [[Blois]].{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=134}}\|alt=An illustration of a derny.]] On 9 September, Merckx participated in a three-round [[omnium]] event at the concrete velodrome in [[Blois]] where each rider was to be paced by a [[derny]].{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=133}}{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=134}} Fernand Wambst was Merckx's pacer for the contest.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=134}} After winning the first intermediate sprint of the first round, Wambst chose to slow their pace and move to the back of the race despite Merckx wanting to stay out in front for fear of an accident.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=135}} Wambst wanted to pass everyone to provide a show for the crowd.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=135}} The duo then increased their pace and began to pass each of the other contestants;{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=135}} however, as they passed the riders in first position, the leading derny lost control and crashed into the wall.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=135}} Wambst chose to avoid the derny by going below it, but the leader's derny came back down and collided with Wambst, while Merckx's pedal caught one of the dernies.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=136}} The two riders landed head first onto the track.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=136}} {{Quote box \| quote = ‘’Blois was the worst experience of my career. Here I could have been dead. The accident cost me a few years of my career, because afterwards, with that back, I never had the same feeling uphill as I had in that very first Tour of ‘69.’' Wambst died of a fractured skull as he was being transported to a hospital.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=136}} Merckx remained unconscious for 45 minutes and awoke in the operating room.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=136}} He sustained a [[concussion]], [[whiplash (medicine)\|whiplash]], trapped nerves in his back, a displaced [[pelvis]], and several other cuts and bruises.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=137}} He remained at the hospital for a week before returning to Belgium.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=137}} He spent six weeks in bed before beginning to race again in October.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=137}} Merckx later stated that he "was never the same again" after the crash.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=137}}<ref name="BRI 1970 Giro">{{cite web\|url=http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1970.html \|title=1970 Giro d'Italia \|work=Bike Race Info\|first1=Bill \|last1=McGann \|first2=Carol \|last2=McGann \|publisher=Dog Ear Publishing\|access-date=10 July 2012\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227195922/http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1970.html\|archive-date=27 February 2014\|url-status=live}}</ref> He would constantly adjust his seat during races to help ease the pain.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=138}} Merckx stopped racing on 26 October to recuperate.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=139}}▼ \| source = Eddy Merckx in 2005<ref>{{cite web \|date=6 July 2005 \|title=Eddy Merckx voor het eerst weer in Blois sinds zware val van 1969 \|trans-title=Eddy Merckx back in Blois for first time since heavy 1969 fall \|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/glmg69ra \|publisher=[[Het Nieuwsblad]] \|language=nl}}</ref> \| bgcolor = #CCDDFF \| align = right \| width = 29% \| quoted = 1 }}▼ ▲Wambst died of a fractured skull as he was being transported to a hospital.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=136}} Merckx remained unconscious for 45 minutes and awoke in the operating room.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=136}} He sustained a [[concussion]], [[whiplash (medicine)\|whiplash]], trapped nerves in his back, a displaced [[pelvis]], and several other cuts and bruises.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=137}} He remained at the hospital for a week before returning to Belgium.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=137}} He spent six weeks in bed before beginning to race again in October.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=137}} Merckx later stated that he "was never the same again" after the crash.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=137}}<ref name="BRI 1970 Giro">{{cite web\|url=http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1970.html \|title=1970 Giro d'Italia \|work=Bike Race Info\|first1=Bill \|last1=McGann \|first2=Carol \|last2=McGann \|publisher=Dog Ear Publishing\|access-date=10 July 2012\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227195922/http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1970.html\|archive-date=27 February 2014\|url-status=live}}</ref> He would constantly adjust the height of his seat during races to help ease the pain.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=138~~}} Merckx stopped racing on 26 October to recuperate.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=139~~}} ====1970: A Giro–Tour double==== Line 254 ⟶ 260: == Retirement == {{Main\|Eddy Merckx Cycles}} {{#invoke:multiple image\| \| image1 = EddyMerckxFactoryInMeise.jpg \| width1 = 175 Line 263 ⟶ 269: \| footer = [[Eddy Merckx Cycles]] (factory pictured left) opened in 1980 and soon began producing bikes that were used by several professional cycling teams (a 1989 model used by {{UCI team code\|MOT\|1989}} pictured right) in the last two decades of the 20th century. }} Following his exit from racing, Merckx opened up [[Eddy Merckx Cycles]] on 28 March 1980 in Brussels.{{sfn\|Friebe\|2012\|p=328}} The initial workers that were hired for the factory were trained by Ugo De Rosa, a notable bike maker, before starting.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=286}} The company almost went bankrupt at one point and was also caught up in a tax repayment controversy.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=286}} Merckx would spend time giving input on the models as they were being produced.{{sfn\|Friebe\|2012\|p=328}}{{sfn\|Moore\|Benson\|2013\|p=135}} Despite the financial problems the brand became highly regarded and successful, being used by several top-level cycling teams in the 1980s and 1990s.{{sfn\|Moore\|Benson\|2013\|p=134}} Merckx stepped down as CEO in 2008 and sold most of his shares,{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=288}} but ~~still~~continued ~~tests~~to test the bikes that ~~are~~were created and ~~has~~had some input.{{sfn\|Moore\|Benson\|2013\|p=135}} 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.{{sfn\|Moore\|Benson\|2013\|p=135}} As of January 2015, the business is still based in Belgium and distributes to over twenty-five countries.<ref name="PM EMC">{{cite web\|url=http://pelotonmagazine.com/goods/eddy-merckx-custom-bike-eddy-70/\|title=Merckx Masterpiece: The EDDY70 \|date=27 January 2015 \|work=Peloton\|publisher=Move Press\|access-date=10 July 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710220420/http://pelotonmagazine.com/goods/eddy-merckx-custom-bike-eddy-70/\|archive-date=10 July 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref> Merckx managed the Belgian national team world championships for eleven years, between 1986 and 1996.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=287}} He acted as the race director for the Tour of Flanders for a brief period of time.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=287}} He temporarily sponsored a youth developmental team with CGER Bank, a team that featured his son Axel.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=288}} 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.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=288}} The event folded after 2004 due to riders' lack of interest.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=288}} Line 271 ⟶ 277: == Personal life == [[File:Eddy-merckx-1350831751.jpg\|thumb\|Eddy Merckx during an interview in 2010\|alt=Eddy Merckx talking.]] Merckx officially began dating Claudine Acou in April 1965.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=69}} Acou was a 21-year-old teacher and daughter of the trainer of the national amateur team.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=40}} Merckx asked her father for permission to marry her between track races.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=69}} On 5 December 1967 Merckx married Acou after four years of courtship.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=69}}{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=40}}{{sfn\|Friebe\|2012\|p=11}} She would often handle the press for her husband, who was shy.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=70}} Acou gave birth to their first child, Sabrina, on 14 February 1970.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=140}} Merckx skipped a team training camp to be with his wife for Sabrina's birth.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=140}} Acou later gave birth to a son, [[Axel Merckx\|Axel]], who also became a professional cyclist.{{sfn\|Heijmans\|Mallon\|2011\|p=132}}{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=83}}{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=288}} Merckx was brought up speaking [[Flemish dialects\|Flemish]], but was taught [[French language\|French]] in school.{{sfn\|Fotheringham\|2013\|p=83}} In 1996 [[Albert II of Belgium]], King of the Belgians, gave him the title of [[baron]].{{sfn\|Heijmans\|Mallon\|2011\|p=132}}{{sfn\|Friebe\|2012\|p=335}} In Italy, Merckx was given the title of ''[[Cavaliere]]''.{{sfn\|Friebe\|2012\|p=335}} In 2011, he was named [[Legion of Honour\|Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur]] by then French President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] in Paris.{{sfn\|Friebe\|2012\|p=335}}<ref name="CDLH">{{cite news\|url=http://www.lapresse.ca/sports/autres-sports/cyclisme/201112/06/01-4475064-eddy-merckx-eleve-au-rang-de-commandeur-de-la-legion-dhonneur.php\|title=Eddy Merckx élevé au rang de Commandeur de la Légion d'honneur \|work=La Presse\|trans-title=Eddy Merckx to the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honour\|language=fr\|date=6 December 2011\|agency=[[Agence France-Presse]]\|access-date=27 May 2012\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712141400/http://www.lapresse.ca/sports/autres-sports/cyclisme/201112/06/01-4475064-eddy-merckx-eleve-au-rang-de-commandeur-de-la-legion-dhonneur.php\|archive-date=12 July 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.{{sfn\|Thorne\|Lambers\|1998\|p=202}} He was blessed by [[Pope John Paul II]] in Brussels in the 1990s.{{sfn\|Thorne\|Lambers\|1998\|p=202}} Merckx is an art lover and stated that his favorite artist is [[René Magritte]], a [[surrealist]].<ref name="CW Int" /> [[Salvador Dalí]] is another of his favorites.<ref name="CW Int" /> Before starting the third stage of the 1968 Giro d'Italia,<ref name="CN PM">{{cite web\|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/did-merckx-ride-with-potentially-lethal-heart-problem/\|title=Did Merckx ride with potentially lethal heart problem?\|date=21 March 2012 \|work=Cycling News\|publisher=Future Publishing \|access-date=19 June 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712161743/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/did-merckx-ride-with-potentially-lethal-heart-problem/\|archive-date=12 July 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> Merckx was found to have a heart condition.<ref name="Pacem">{{cite news\|author=VeloNews.com\|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/03/news/eddy-merckx-fitted-with-a-pacemaker-to-control-heart-issues_278614\|title=Eddy Merckx fitted with a pacemaker to control heart issues\|date=22 March 2013 \|work=VeloNews\|access-date=14 June 2015\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712160915/http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/03/news/eddy-merckx-fitted-with-a-pacemaker-to-control-heart-issues_278614\|archive-date=12 July 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref> A cardiologist, Giancarlo Lavezzaro, found that Merckx had [[Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy\|non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]], a disease that has killed several young athletes.<ref name="CN PM" /><ref name="Pacem" /> In 2013, Merckx was given a [[pacemaker]] to help correct a heart rhythm issue.<ref name="Pacem" /> The surgery was performed in [[Genk]] on 21the 21st of March ~~and~~of that ~~done~~year as a preventative ~~procedure~~measure.<ref name="Pacem" /> Merckx stated that he never had any heart issues while racing, despite the fact that several ~~males~~men in his family died young of heart -related problems.<ref name="CN PM" /><ref name="Pacem" /> In May 2004, he had an [[esophagus]] operation to cure ~~stomach~~stomachaches ~~aches~~that ~~suffered~~had plagued him since he was young.<ref name="CN ESOP">{{cite web\|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2004/nov04/nov29news \|title=Merckx dispels health rumours \|author=Jeff Jones & Hedwig Kröner \|date=29 November 2004 \|work=Cycling News \|publisher=Future Publishing \|access-date=19 June 2015 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712162328/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news%2F2004%2Fnov04%2Fnov29news \|archive-date=12 July 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> In August, he reported that he lost nearly 30 kg after the procedure.<ref name="CN ESOP" /> On 13 October 2019, Merckx was hospitalised after a cycling accident, having suffered a haemorrhage and ~~being~~falling unconscious for a while. He was released a week later.<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Long \|first1=Jonny \|title=Eddy Merckx released from hospital following bike crash \|url=https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/racing/eddy-merckx-released-hospital-following-bike-crash-440843 \|work=[[Cycling Weekly]] \|access-date=22 October 2019 \|date=20 October 2019}}</ref> == Career achievements == Line 295 ⟶ 301: \| quoted = 1 }} 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.{{sfn\|Heijmans\|Mallon\|2011\|p=130}}<ref name="PM EM" /> He holds the record for most Grand Tour victories with 11, along with the record for most stage wins across all three Grand Tours with 64.<ref name="CW EM Lega" /> He has completed the most Giro-Tour doubles in history with three.<ref name="PM EM" /><ref name="CW EM Lega" /> He was the first rider to win cycling's Triple Crown which has only been accomplished one other time, by [[Stephen Roche]] in 1987.<ref name="sports-reference" />{{sfn\|Heijmans\|Mallon\|2011\|p=130}}<ref name="BRI EM" /> He is the only rider to win the general, points and mountains classifications at the Giro d'Italia, in 1968, and at the Tour de France, in 1969.{{sfn\|Heijmans\|Mallon\|2011\|p=130}} Since then, the general, points and mountains classifications have been won at the Vuelta a España by [[Tony Rominger]] in 1993 and by [[Laurent Jalabert]] in 1995.{{sfn\|Heijmans\|Mallon\|2011\|p=130}} He shares the record for most victories at both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, with five wins at each.{{sfn\|Foot\|2011\|p=225}}{{sfn\|Nauright\|Parrish\|2012\|p=368}} In those races he also holds the records for days spent in the race leader's jersey at 78 and 96 respectively.{{sfn\|Nauright\|Parrish\|2012\|p=368}}<ref name="VN EM GDTHOF">{{cite news\|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/03/news/giro-ditalia-hall-of-fame-inducts-eddy-merckx-as-its-first-member_209438\|title=Giro d'Italia Hall of Fame inducts Eddy Merckx as its first member\|date=15 March 2012\|author=VeloNews.com \|work=VeloNews\|publisher=Competitor Group\|access-date=14 May 2014\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630014658/http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/03/news/giro-ditalia-hall-of-fame-inducts-eddy-merckx-as-its-first-member_209438\|archive-date=30 June 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref> For his career successes in the Giro d'Italia, Merckx became the first rider inducted into the race's Hall of Fame in 2012.<ref name="VN EM GDTHOF" /><ref name="CN EM HOF">{{cite web\|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/merckx-inducted-into-giro-ditalia-hall-of-fame \|title=Merckx inducted into Giro d'Italia Hall of Fame\|date=16 March 2012 \|work=Cycling News\|access-date=13 July 2013\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626210151/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/merckx-inducted-into-giro-ditalia-hall-of-fame\|archive-date=26 June 2012\|url-status=live}}</ref> When being inducted, Merckx was given the modern-day trophy with the winners engraved until 1974, the last year he won the race.<ref name="VN EM GDTHOF" /><ref name="CN EM HOF" /> At the Tour, he ~~shares~~sits just behind Mark Cavendish for the record ~~for~~of the most stage wins in ~~its~~a ~~history~~career, ~~with~~Merckx's thirty-four to Cavendish's thirty-five.<ref name="BRI EM" /><ref name="CW EM Lega" />{{sfn\|Liggett\|Raia\|Lewis\|2005\|p=179}} The ''Grand Départ'' for the [[2019 Tour de France]] was held in Brussels, Belgium to honor Merckx's first Tour de France win in 1969.<ref name="VN Tdf 2019">{{cite news\|url=https://www.velonews.com/2019/07/news/50-years-on-merckxs-legendary-status-gets-fresh-recognition_496410\|title=50 years on, Merckx's legendary status gets fresh recognition\|date=7 July 2019\|author=Rupert Guinness \|work=VeloNews\|access-date=9 August 2019\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809022213/https://www.velonews.com/2019/07/news/50-years-on-merckxs-legendary-status-gets-fresh-recognition_496410\|archive-date=9 August 2019\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=Tour de France honours Merckx with 2019 Brussels Grand Depart \|url=https://en.as.com/en/2017/05/30/other_sports/1496178624_428985.html \|access-date=6 July 2019 \|work=[[Diario AS]] \|agency=[[Perform Group]] \|date=30 May 2017}}</ref> He was given the nickname "The Cannibal" by the daughter of [[Christian Raymond]], a teammate of Merckx's.<ref name="NYT CAN" />{{sfn\|Friebe\|2012\|p=146}} Raymond had commented on Merckx not allowing anyone else to win, to which his daughter referred to Merckx as a cannibal.{{sfn\|Friebe\|2012\|p=146}}<ref name="NYT CAN" /> Raymond liked the nickname and then mentioned it to the press.{{sfn\|Friebe\|2012\|p=146}} In Italy, he was known as ''il mostro'' ("the Monster").{{sfn\|Foot\|2011\|p=226}} Line 304 ⟶ 310: ==== Grand Tours ==== ~~[[File:Eddy Merckx, TDF 1970.jpg\|thumb\|Eddy Merckx in the [[1970 Tour de France]].]]~~ * Most [[Grand Tour (cycling)#Wins per rider\|Grand Tour wins]]: 11 * Most [[Grand Tour (cycling)#Winners of three or more consecutive Grand Tours\|consecutive Grand Tours wins]]: 4 in [[1972 Giro d'Italia]], [[1972 Tour de France]], [[1973 Vuelta a España]] & [[1973 Giro d'Italia]] * Most [[List of riders with stage wins at all three cycling Grand Tours\|Grand Tour stage wins]]: 64 * Most [[List of Tour de France general classification winners#Multiple winners\|Tour de France wins]]: 5 in [[1969 Tour de France\|1969]], [[1970 Tour de France\|1970]], [[1971 Tour de France\|1971]], [[1972 Tour de France\|1972]] & [[1974 Tour de France\|1974]] (record shared with [[Jacques Anquetil]], [[Bernard Hinault]] and [[Miguel Induráin]]) * ~~Most~~Former record of most [[Tour de France records and statistics#Stage wins per rider\|Tour de France stage wins]]: 34 (~~record shared with [[Mark Cavendish]]~~1975–2024) * Most stage wins in 1 Tour de France: 8 in 1970 (record shared with [[Charles Pélissier]] and [[Freddy Maertens]]) * Most days in [[Yellow jersey statistics\|Tour de France yellow jersey]] [[File:Jersey gold.svg\|20px]]: 96 Line 335 ⟶ 340: * [[Hour record\|UCI World hour record]] [[File:MaillotMundialCrono.PNG\|20px]]: [[Hour record#UCI hour record (1972–2014)\|1972]] * Most [[UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race\|UCI World Road Championships]] [[File:Jersey_rainbow.svg\|20x20px]]: 3 in [[1967 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race\|1967]], [[1971 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race\|1971]] & [[1974 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race\|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]]) * [[2022 Liège–Bastogne–Liège\|Monument]] winner, [[2022 Vuelta a España\|Grand Tour]] winner and [[2022 UCI Road World Championships\|UCI World Champion]] in 1 year: 1971 (record shared with [[Alfredo Binda]], [[Bernard Hinault]] and [[Remco Evenepoel]]) * Most [[Super Prestige Pernod]] wins: 7 in 1969, 1970, [[1971 Super Prestige Pernod\|1971]], 1972, 1973, 1974 & 1975 Line 361 ⟶ 366: == Doping == [[File:Eddy Merckx 1969.jpg\|thumb\|left\|upright\|Merckx (pictured during at 1969 Six Days of Milan) 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 ~~upon the conclusion of~~after the sixteenth stage in [[Savona]].<ref name="BRI 1969">{{cite web\|url=http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1969.html \|title=1969 Giro d'Italia \|work=Bike Race Info\|first1=Bill \|last1=McGann \|first2=Carol \|last2=McGann \|publisher=Dog Ear Publishing\|access-date=10 July 2012\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227195922/http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1969.html\|archive-date=27 February 2014\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CN M Dop">{{cite news\|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/giro-ditalia-the-merckx-years \|title=Giro d'Italia: The Merckx years\|website=[[Cyclingnews.com]]\|location=Bath, UK\|date= 3 May 2011\|access-date=10 May 2015\|author=Stephen Farrand\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511200303/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/giro-ditalia-the-merckx-years\|archive-date=11 May 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CN M Dop2">{{cite news\|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/worlds08/?id=/features/2008/woodland_merckx_worlds08 \|title=Will Eddy receive a warm welcome? \|website=[[Cyclingnews.com]]\|location=Bath, UK \|date=23 September 2008 \|access-date=10 May 2015 \|author=Les Woodland \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511214000/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/worlds08/?id=%2Ffeatures%2F2008%2Fwoodland_merckx_worlds08 \|archive-date=11 May 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> After the stage, ~~Merckx~~he went to the mobile lab that travelled with the race and conducted ~~the~~ drug tests.{{sfn\|Foot\|2011\|p=251}}{{refn\|name=Savona\|group=N\|At the 1969 Giro d'Italia the top two in the general classification were drug tested after each stage, along with two other cyclists chosen at random.{{sfn\|Foot\|2011\|p=251}}}} ~~Merckx's~~His first test was positive for [[fencamfamine]], an [[amphetamine]].,<ref name="BRI 1969" /><ref name="CN M Dop" /><ref name="CN M Dop2" />{{sfn\|Foot\|2011\|p=251}} Aand a second test was also positive.<ref name="CN M Dop" /><ref name="CN M Dop2" />{{sfn\|Foot\|2011\|p=251}} ~~Controversially, the~~The results of the test were announced to the press before Merckx and his team were informed.<ref name="eurosport3222">{{cite web \|date=1 August 2019 \|title=Milestones: Eddy Merckx & the Tour de France that Almost Wasn't \|url=https://www.flahute.com/cycling/cycling-history/milestones-eddy-merckx-the-tour-de-france-that-almost-wasnt/ \|publisher=Flahute}}</ref> The positive test meant Merckx was to be suspended for a month.<ref name="LGDS Dop">{{cite news\|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1999/giugno/06/Merckx_positivo_cacciato_dal_Giro_ga_0_9906069133.shtml\|title=Merckx positivo: cacciato dal Giro nel 1969 \|newspaper=La Gazzetta dello Sport\|author=Rino Negri \|trans-title=Merckx positive expelled from the Tour in 1969\| language=it\|date=6 June 1999\|access-date=27 May 2012\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511215644/http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/1999/giugno/06/Merckx_positivo_cacciato_dal_Giro_ga_0_9906069133.shtml\|archive-date=11 May 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref name="CN M Dop2" /> However, the president was not in his office and Torriani was forced to start the stage, disqualifying Merckx in the process.<ref name="CN M Dop2" /> In ~~succeeding~~the following days, the UCI removed the suspension.<ref name="CN M Dop" /><ref name="CN M Dop2" /> From the start, Merckx claimed his innocence saying that "I am a clean rider, I do not need to take anything to win." ~~Prior, Merckx~~He had previously tested negative eight times ~~negative~~during inthe ~~this Giro~~race.<ref>{{cite web \|date=6 May 2017 \|title=The Secret of Savona \|url=https://www.podiumcafe.com/book-corner/2017/5/6/15567934/the-secret-of-savona \|publisher=Podium Cafe}}</ref> The majority of the international press believed in ~~Merckx's~~his innocence, stating that with his lead, it was illogical that he would use banned substances inon an easy stage, ~~moreover knowing~~with a doping test ~~was likely~~certain to follow ~~(being~~if he was still the leader).<ref name="EP M Dop">{{cite news \|author=Carlos Arribas \|date=6 June 1999 \|title=Merckx también tuvo que dejar el Giro \|language=es \|trans-title=Merckx also had to leave the Giro \|newspaper= El País\|url=http://elpais.com/diario/1999/06/06/deportes/928620002_850215.html \|url-status=live \|access-date=27 May 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511200858/http://elpais.com/diario/1999/06/06/deportes/928620002_850215.html \|archive-date=11 May 2015}}</ref> He ~~maintains~~argued that his samples ~~were~~had been mishandled.<ref name="CN M Dop" /><ref name="CN M Dop2" />{{sfn\|Foot\|2011\|p=254}} After the incident, several conspiracy theories emerged, including: that the urine that tested positive was not Merckx's,{{sfn\|Foot\|2011\|pp=252–253}} and ~~Merckx~~that he had been given a water bottle with the stimulant in it,{{sfn\|Foot\|2011\|p=253}}⁠{{nowrap\|{{mdash}}{{px2}}}}ostensibly all moves to give Italian [[Felice Gimondi]] a better chance at victory.{{sfn\|Foot\|2011\|p=252}}{{sfn\|Foot\|2011\|p=253}}<ref name="eurosport3222" /> On 8 November 1973, it was announced that Merckx had tested positive for [[norephedrine]] after winning the Giro di Lombardia a month earlier.<ref name="LS 73 GiL">{{cite news\|author=Gianni Pignata\|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,19/articleid,1118_01_1973_0264_0019_16216471/\|title=Merckx, doping nel "Lombardia"\|language=it\|date=9 November 1973\|page=19\|newspaper=La Stampa\|publisher=Editrice La Stampa\|access-date=27 May 2012\|trans-title=Merckx, doping in "Lombardia"}}</ref><ref name="LU 73 GiL">{{cite news \|url=http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1973_11/19731109_0010.pdf \|title=Merckx positivo! (Il <<Lombardia>> è di Gimondi) \|language=it \|date=9 November 1973 \|page=10 \|newspaper=l'Unità \|publisher=PCI \|access-date=27 May 2012 \|trans-title=Merckx positivo! (The <<Lombardia>> is Gimondi's) \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511225758/http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=%2Farchivio%2Funi_1973_11%2F19731109_0010.pdf \|archive-date=11 May 2015 \|url-status=dead}}</ref> Upon learning of the first test being positive in later October, he had a counter-analysis performed which ~~also~~was ~~turned up~~also positive.<ref name="LS 73 GiL" /> The drug was present in a cough medicine that the Molteni doctor, Dr. Cavalli, prescribed to him.<ref name="LS 73 GiL" /> Merckx was disqualified from the race and the victory was awarded to second-place finisher Gimondi.<ref name="LS 73 GiL" /><ref name="LU 73 GiL" /><ref name="BRI 73 GiL">{{cite web\|url=http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/classics/Tour%20of%20Lombardy/1973-giro-di-lombardia.html\|title=1973 Giro di Lombardia results\|work=Bike Race Info\|first1=Bill \|last1=McGann \|first2=Carol \|last2=McGann \|publisher=Dog Ear Publishing\|access-date=10 July 2012\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511224223/http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/classics/Tour%20of%20Lombardy/1973-giro-di-lombardia.html\|archive-date=11 May 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, Merckx was given a month's suspension and fined 150,000 lira.<ref name="LS 73 GiL" /><ref name="LU 73 GiL" /> ~~Merckx~~He admitted his fault in taking the medicine but said that the name norephedrine was not on the bottle of cough syrup he used.<ref name="LS 73 GiL" /> Norephedrine was later removed from the [[List of drugs banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency\|WADA-list]] of banned substances.<ref>{{cite web \|date=17 June 2010 \|title=De kampioen Merckx was de maat der dingen, ondanks de mens Merckx \|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/bj2rgi5p \|publisher=Het Nieuwsblad \|language=nl}}</ref> On 8 May 1977, Merckx, along with several other riders, tested positive for the stimulant [[pemoline]]~~, a stimulant in Stimul,~~ at La Flèche Wallonne.<ref name="EP 77 Dop">{{cite news\|url=http://elpais.com/diario/1977/05/08/deportes/231890412_850215.html\|title= Merckx también tuvo que dejar el Giro \|newspaper= El País\|trans-title= Merckx also had to leave the Giro\|language=es\|date=8 May 1977\|access-date=27 May 2012\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618033643/http://elpais.com/diario/1977/05/08/deportes/231890412_850215.html\|archive-date=18 June 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="LS 77 Dop">{{cite news\|agency=Associated Press\|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,19/articleid,1093_01_1977_0100_0020_20344081/anews,true/\|title=Maetans sospeso (ma farà il Giro)\|language=it\|date=10 May 1977\|page=19\|newspaper=La Stampa\|publisher=Editrice La Stampa\|access-date=27 May 2012\|trans-title=Maetans suspended (but will do the Giro)}}</ref><ref name="LU 77 Dop">{{cite news \|url=http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1977_05/19770510_0012.pdf \|title=<<Condizionale>> per Merckx Maertens e altri quattro \|language=it \|date=10 May 1977 \|page=12 \|newspaper=l'Unità \|publisher=PCI \|access-date=27 May 2012 \|trans-title=<<Conditional>> for Merckx Maertens and four others \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618034255/http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=%2Farchivio%2Funi_1977_05%2F19770510_0012.pdf \|archive-date=18 June 2015 \|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="ELM 77 Dop-1">{{cite news \|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1977/05/09/MD19770509-052.pdf\|title=Merckx y Maertens se doparon\|language=es \|date=9 May 1977 \|page=52 \|newspaper=El Mundo Deportivo\|access-date=21 April 2013\|trans-title=Merckx and Maertens were doped\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618035643/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1977/05/09/MD19770509-052.pdf\|archive-date=18 June 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ELM 77 Dop-2">{{cite news \|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1977/05/11/MD19770511-030.pdf\|title=Merckx y Maertens contra el <<anti-doping>> \|language=es \|date=11 May 1977 \|page=30 \|newspaper=El Mundo Deportivo\|access-date=21 April 2013\|trans-title=Merckx and Maertens against <<anti- doping>>\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618035423/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1977/05/11/MD19770511-030.pdf\|archive-date=18 June 2015\|url-status=live}}</ref> The group of riders was charged by the Belgian cycling federation, and ~~the riders~~ were each given a 24,000 [[Spanish peseta\|pesetas]] fine and a one-month suspension.<ref name="ELM 77 Dop-2" /> Initially, Merckx announced his intention to appeal the penalty, saying he only took substances that were not on the banned list.<ref name="ELM 77 Dop-2" /> ~~Merckx's~~His eighth-place finish in the race was voided. Years later, Merckx ~~admitted~~said he did take a banned substance, citing that he was wrong to have trusted a doctor.{{fact\|date=July 2024}} Due to Merckx's positive tests during his career, he was one of several riders asked by the event organizers to stay away from the [[2007 UCI Road World Championships]] in [[Stuttgart]], Germany.<ref name="EM 07 UCI">{{cite web\|title=Eddy Merckx joins list of unwelcome people in Stuttgart \|author=Gregor Brown & Bjorn Haake \|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2007/sep07/sep26news2 \|date=26 September 2007 \|website=[[Cyclingnews.com]]\|access-date=28 September 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717021921/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news%2F2007%2Fsep07%2Fsep26news2 \|archive-date=17 July 2015 \|url-status=live}}</ref> The organizers stated that {{nowrap\|"[they]}} had to be role models", while Merckx wrote them off, claiming they were crazy~~.<ref name="EM 07 UCI" /> Merckx was not alone, as several other riders were asked to keep their distance from the event~~.<ref name="EM 07 UCI" /> == Honours and awards == Line 383 ⟶ 388: * [[Belgian Olympic Committee\|BOIC]] Order of Merit: 2013<ref>{{cite web \|date=31 May 2013 \|title=Eddy Merckx krijgt Orde van Verdienste: "Dit is grote eer" \|url=https://www.hln.be/meer-sport/eddy-merckx-krijgt-orde-van-verdienste-dit-is-grote-eer~a01faff4/ \|publisher=Het Laatste Nieuws \|language=nl}}</ref> * Merckx is honorary citizen of [[Meise]], [[Tielt-Winge]] and [[Tervuren]]<ref>{{cite news\|title="Toch maar mooi ereburger zoals Eddy Merckx"\|language=nl\|url=https://www.hln.be/meise/toch-maar-mooi-ereburger-zoals-eddy-merckx~a8f22c36/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=Eddy Merckx opent oorlogsmuseum in Tielt-Winge\|language=nl\|url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf11112000_035}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=Merckx ereburger van Tervuren\|language=nl\|url=https://www.hbvl.be/cnt/eid36781}}</ref> * ~~Bronzen~~[[Bronze Zinneke]]: 2006<ref>{{cite web \|title=Bronzen Zinnekes voor Merckx, Van Himst en Wynants \|url=https://www.bruzz.be/samenleving/bronzen-zinnekes-voor-merckx-van-himst-en-wynants-2006-06-07 \|publisher=bruzz.be \|language=nl \|publication-date=7 June 2006}}</ref>▼ === Sport awards and honours === [[File:Wielerwedstrijden in Olympisch Stadion, ereronde van Eddy Merckx, Bestanddeelnr 926-5867.jpg\|thumb\|In 2000, the UCI named Merckx (pictured in 1973) ''Cyclist of the 20th Century'']] {{div col\|colwidth=60em}} * [[Belgian National Sports Merit Award]]: 1967<ref name="eurosport212">{{cite web \|date=17 June 2015 \|title=70 feitjes over de jarige 'Kannibaal' Eddy Merckx \|url=https://sportnieuws.nl/wielrennen/tour-de-france/70-feitjes-over-de-jarige-kannibaal-eddy-merckx/ \|publisher=Sportnieuws.nl \|language=nl}}</ref> Line 406 ⟶ 413: * [[:es:Salón de la Fama del Ciclismo\|UCI Top 100 of All Time]]: (1st place, 24 510 points) * Memoire du Cyclisme – Ranking of the Greatest Cyclists (1st place): 2002<ref name="eurosport19">{{cite web \|date=31 December 2021 \|title=Les meilleurs coureurs de tous les temps (1892-2002) \|url=http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/dossiers/dos_marszalek2.php \|publisher=Mémoire du Cyclisme \|language=fr}}</ref> ▲* Bronzen Zinneke: 2006<ref>{{cite web \|title=Bronzen Zinnekes voor Merckx, Van Himst en Wynants \|url=https://www.bruzz.be/samenleving/bronzen-zinnekes-voor-merckx-van-himst-en-wynants-2006-06-07 \|publisher=bruzz.be \|language=nl \|publication-date=7 June 2006}}</ref> * [[Bleacher Report]] – The 30 Most Dominant Athletes of All Time (20th): 2010<ref name="eurosport3">{{cite web \|date=1 October 2010 \|title=Michael Jordan Or Wayne Gretzky? The 30 Most Dominant Athletes Of All Time \|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/442846-michael-jordan-or-wayne-gretzky-the-30-most-dominant-athletes-of-all-time \|website=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref> * Bleacher Report – Tour de France All-Time Top 25 Riders (1st place): 2011<ref name="eurosport22">{{cite web \|date=9 July 2011 \|title=Tour de France All-Time Top 25 Riders, No. 5 to 1 \|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/761582-tour-de-france-all-time-top-25-riders \|website=[[Bleacher Report]]}}</ref> Line 415 ⟶ 421: * [[Rouleur (magazine)\|Rouleur]] Hall of Fame: 2018<ref>{{cite news \|date=18 September 2018 \|title=Eddy Merckx is guest of honour at 2018 Rouleur Classic \|publisher=Endurance.biz \|url=https://endurance.biz/2018/industry-news/eddy-merckx-is-guest-of-honour-at-2018-rouleur-classic/}}</ref> * [[VeloNews\|Velonews]] The Greatest Cyclists of All Time (1st place): 2019<ref name="eurosport8">{{cite web \|date=20 February 2019 \|title=The Outer Line: Ranking the greatest cyclists of all time \|url=https://www.velonews.com/events/the-outer-line-ranking-the-greatest-cyclists-of-all-time/ \|work=Velonews}}</ref> * [[Wiggle Ltd\|Wiggle]] The Best Cyclists Ever Rank (1st place): 2020<ref name="eurosport9">{{cite web \|date=6 July 2022 \|title=The best cyclists ever – ranked \|url=https://blog.wiggle.co.uk/best-cyclists-ever-ranked \|publisher=Wiggle \|access-date=23 February 2022 \|archive-date=23 February 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223100116/https://blog.wiggle.co.uk/best-cyclists-ever-ranked \|url-status=dead }}</ref> * [[Eurosport]] Greatest General Classification Cyclist of all Time: 2020<ref name="eurosport11">{{cite web \|date=19 July 2020 \|title=Eddy Merckx voted greatest GC cyclist of all time – The Eurosport Cup \|url=https://www.eurosport.com/cycling/tour-de-france/2019/re-cycle-when-eddy-merckx-descended-the-galibier-for-victory-in-valloire_sto7810554/story.shtml \|publisher=Eurosport}}</ref> * CyclingRanking – Overall Ranking (1st place): 2022<ref name="eurosport4">{{cite web \|title=Overall Ranking \|url=https://www.cyclingranking.com/ \|publisher=Cycling Ranking}}</ref> * [[Vélo d'Or]] honorary award: 2023<ref>{{cite web \|date= \|title=VELO D’OR 2023 - Die Preisträgerinnen & Preisträger im Überblick \|url=https://www.tour-magazin.de/profi-radsport/aktuelles/velo-dor-2023-bester-radsportler-beste-radsportlerin-gekurt/ \|publisher=tour-magazin.de \|language=de \|publication-date=25 October 2023}}</ref> {{div col end}} === Places and statues === {{#invoke:multiple image\| ~~[[File:Monument Eddy Merckx te Wolvertem.jpg\|thumb\|260px\|Eddy Merckx Monument in Meise]]~~ \| align = right \| total_width = 450 \| image1 = Luc De Blick - Standbeeld Eddy Merckx (cropped).png \| alt1 = Statue of Eddy Merckx in Kiezegem, Belgium \| image2 = Eddy Merckx-statue Stavelot.png \| alt2 = Statue of Eddy Merckx in Stavelot, Belgium \| image3 = Monument Eddy Merckx te Wolvertem (cropped).png \| alt3 = Monument of Eddy Merckx in Wolvertem, Belgium \| footer = Statue of Merckx in Meensel-Kiezegem and monuments in Stavelot and Meise }} * Monument in [[Stavelot]]: 1993<ref name="eurosport2067">{{cite web \|title=Côte de Stockeu \|url=https://www.klimgeiten.nl/overzicht/stockeu/stockeu.htm \|publisher=Klimgeiten \|language=nl}}</ref> * Vélodrome Eddy Merckx, [[Mourenx]]: 1999<ref name="eurosport2062">{{cite news \|date=15 July 2021 \|title=Tour de France : " Mourenx, un très bon souvenir " pour Eddy Merckx \|language=fr \|publisher=Sudouest \|url=https://www.sudouest.fr/sport/cyclisme/tour-de-france-mourenx-un-tres-bon-souvenir-pour-eddy-merckx-4158438.php}}</ref> * [[Eddy Merckx metro station]], [[Brussels Metro\|Brussels]]: 2003<ref name="eurosport206">{{cite web \|date=12 March 2002 \|title=Metrostation Eddy Merckx \|url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dst12032002_017 \|publisher=De Standaard \|language=nl}}</ref> * Sports complex, [[~~:nl:~~Vlaams Wielercentrum Eddy Merckx~~\|Vlaams Wielercentrum Eddy Merckx (nl)~~]], Gent: 2006<ref name="eurosport2063">{{cite web \|title=Vlaams Wielercentrum Eddy Merckx \|url=https://www.sport.vlaanderen/waar-sporten/onze-centra/sport-vlaanderen-gent/accommodaties/vlaams-wielercentrum-eddy-merckx/ \|publisher=Sport Vlaanderen \|language=nl}}</ref> * Momument in [[Meise]]: 2015<ref name="eurosport2064">{{cite web \|date=13 June 2015 \|title=Eddy Merckx onthult eigen monument in Meise \|url=https://www.ringtv.be/nieuws/eddy-merckx-onthult-eigen-monument-meise \|publisher=RingTV \|language=nl}}</ref> * Statue in [[Meensel-Kiezegem]]: 2015<ref name="eurosport2065">{{cite web \|date=13 October 2015 \|title=Standbeeld Eddy Merckx krijgt vaste stek aan Huis Pypen \|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/blcva_01917215 \|publisher=Het Nieuwsblad \|language=nl}}</ref> Line 432 ⟶ 448: === Events and awards === * Golden Bike Eddy Merckx: a cycle race for novices from 1983 to 2008<ref>{{cite web \|date=3 March 2008 \|title=Les Jeunes sur la Route \|url=https://www.dhnet.be/archives-journal/2003/08/04/les-jeunes-sur-la-route-WNVNA5RFTFHQZLXLRWQFL4KRKU/ \|url-status= \|access-date=6 January 2023 \|work=[[La Dernière Heure]] \|language=fr}}</ref> * [[Grand Prix Eddy Merckx]]: a professional cycle race from 1980 to 2004<ref>{{cite web \|title=2004»GP Eddy Merckx (1.2) \|url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/gp-eddy-merckx/2004/result \|publisher=ProCyclingStats}}</ref> * [[:de:Chiba Alpencup\|Chiba Alpencup (de)]] Eddy Merckx Classics'''<ref name="eurosport322">{{cite web \|title=Rennserie CHIBA Alpencup Der CHIBA Alpencup findet 2020 leider nicht statt \|url=https://www.alpen-guide.de/artikel/chiba-alpencup-602 \|publisher=AlpenGuide.de \|language=de}}</ref>''' * Start of the [[2019 Tour de France]] in Brussels in honour of Eddy Merckx<ref>{{cite web \|date=30 May 2017 \|title=Zu Ehren von Eddy Merckx: Tour-de-France-Start 2019 angeblich in Brüssel \|url=https://www.eurosport.de/radsport/zu-ehren-von-merckx-tour-de-france-start-2019-angeblich-in-brussel_sto6188843/story.shtml \|publisher=Eurosport \|language=de}}</ref> Line 448 ⟶ 464: * 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 * He is quoted in Mysa's 2009 rap song ''Monde Sale'': "...everything is fake, ask Eddy Merckx" * ''10 Speed Cannibal'', a song by the band CröMöly was released in 2011 === Films and series === Line 508 ⟶ 522: * ''Eddy Merckx – Een leven'' by Daniel Friebe in 2013, 272 p. (Dutch) {{ISBN\|9789401404471}} * ''Eddy Merckx – De biografie'' by Johny Vansevenant in 2015, 400 p. (Dutch, French) {{ISBN\|9789492081513}} * ''Eddy! Eddy! Eddy! De Tour in België'' by Geert de Vriese in 2019, 256 p. (Dutch) {{ISBN\|9789089247308}} * ''50 jaar Merckx – Jubileum van een Tourlegende'' by Tonny Strouken in 2020, 140 p. (Dutch, French) {{ISBN\|9789059247314}} * ''L'Irrésistible Ascension d'un Jeune Champion'' by Pierre Thonon in 1968, 170 p. (French) Line 554 ⟶ 568: == See also == {{#invoke:Portal\|portal\|Biography\|Sports\|Belgium}} * [[Cycling records]] * [[Yellow jersey statistics]] * [[Pink jersey statistics]] * [[List of Belgians]] * [[List of foreign recipients of the Légion d'Honneur]] * [[List of Giro d'Italia general classification winners]] Line 573 ⟶ 586: '''Citations''' <references /> ~~{{reflist}}~~ == External links == Line 589 ⟶ 602: {{s-inc}} {{s-end}} ~~{{Navboxes~~ {{navboxes top \| title = Sporting positions and awards \| ~~list1~~bg = gold \| fg = navy }} {{UCI Road World Champions – Men's road race}} {{UEC European Track Champions – Men's omnium}} Line 616 ⟶ 632: {{UCI Hall of Fame}} {{PAP European Sportsperson of the Year}} {{navboxes bottom}} ▲}} {{#invoke:Authority control\|authorityControl}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Merckx, Eddy}} [[Category:Eddy Merckx\| ]] [[Category:1945 births]] [[Category:~~Barons~~Belgian ~~of Belgium~~barons]] [[Category:Belgian Giro d'Italia stage winners]] [[Category:Belgian male cyclists]]