Shook his hand a few years ago at Godeau cycles ( Godeau was his year long mechanic). Eddy Merckx is the calmest and humblest man you'll ever encounter. I still can't discern what impressed me most... Shaking the hand of a living legend or encountering the most gracious human being.
He gave an interview on the pain he faces all the time. He said if there is any morning where he's not in pain then that's only because he's dead. It was already difficult for him to turn 40 years old he said one time. Now he's almost twice that age. Dude has to be calm. His body won't let him be any other way ;))
@@bastian6173 Was that the result of that awful crash during a 6-day race in which his pacer died? He was never the same after that, but was still amazingly good.
@@stevemawer848 Idk... I only know one time he hurt his knee real bad and since then he's been in almost constant pain. I think now he is mostly dealing with the consequences of decades of racing. I think he also had some heart issues where the doctors realized his heart wall so the muscle part has thickened and become stiff. The doctors said his heart could have failed at any moment and that that has been going on for years and years. Anyway, Eddy pushed the body to the absolute limit and no matter the consequences I am sure it was worth it! He won't be forgotten anytime soon.
Axel has a 161 km./100 mile ride in Penticton, BC, every summer. About 40 kms. In there is a steep, long twisty downhill. I was with a group of guys about his age or a bit younger. Eddy, then well into his 60s, passed us outside on a sharp downhill hairpin like we were standing still - amazing bike control!
That is not a real comparison , as in the day specialization was not common like the past decades. But what is still astounding are his 500+ victories in a good 12-13 seasons. That was 40 victories i of all kind per year in a sport where you mostly don't win.. For 12 years on average every week you 'd hear the news sentence " Eddie Merckx has won ....". Incredible ...
Easy for newbies to say that mercx wouldnt beat the talent nowadays, but at the same time, the riders now would not beat mercx if they were racing in the 60s and 70s with insane long stages packed with a load of cols, shocking road conditions, heavy bikes and arduous weather conditions
Wow! Thank you so much. What a forgotten legacy. Years ago, I was fortunate enough to meet and ride with Eddy when I worked in the bike industry. For a club rider, those were moments I will never forget. What a humble gentleman. I'm now 65, and every time I meet some young rider, I make sure by the end of the ride, they will know who the greatest cyclist of all time is. The cannibal.
The greatest athlete the world has ever seen. The depth and breadth of his wins in unmatched in any sport. And his legacy as a gentleman of exceptional quality remains inspiring to everyone.
@@fender1000100 Tennis? Good lord country club boy, that sport's not even close to the kind of athleticism of a pro-tour cyclist endures, especially at this level. Races can last up to 7 hours, in rain, snow or heat with thousand of meters climbing, cobblestone roads, 60kph speeds with broken bones and death just a twitch away. We're talking back to back racing for weeks on end for a season that lasted 10 months a year. Tennis is a great sport but please, don't compare the athletic expression to cycling, it's just not on the same level.
I am a definite fan of Eddy Merckx, of course. I discovered him in 1969 (I was 11) in Paris-Roubaix where he finished second but since then I followed his career till the end in 1977 ( he just rode a few races in 1978 when he stopped ). I was impressed by his courage, his rage of winning, his "panache" and his chivalrous spirit. My greatest deception was in 1975 when he lost what should have been his 6th victory in the Tour de France, making of Merckx the absolute winner ever in this competion. He mist also a few other records, like a fourth win in the World Championship in 1973, a 4th win in Paris-Roubaix 1975 (he got a puncture 5 kms before the end and managed to catch up the group and was beated in the sprint by a great Roger De Vlaeminck) and at last he should have been the first cyclist to "break the wall" of 50 kms in an hour in Mexico. But, Merckx being Merckx, he started off too fast, willing to break the 10 and 20 kms record, using this as a loophole to reach the 50 kms. Anyway, you can't win everything of course and for many a professional cyclist it would be paramount to win even one Tour or one "monument" ! Bravissimo Eddy !
I remember Eddy Merckx in tears wheen he saw his son Axel take the bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics. Eddy never won a medal at the Olympics (albeit because professional cyclists were not allowed at the Olympics when he was around).
Eddy was actually away in a break at Tokyo when Julien Stevens took out himself Eddy and a British rider. Eddy would have won gold if not for a dopey Dutchie.
Yes, a very, very small window for the purely Brundage dictated amateur riders to win the lottery which was the Olympic Road Race way back then (unless they were one of the 'State Pros' from the Iron Curtain countries).
I recall a story about a journalist who wanted to interview Eddy, as he was training for the upcoming season. He arrived at Eddy's hotel at what he thought was a reasonable time in the morning, probably around 8AM but the hotel manager said you missed him already. He found out later in the day that Eddy had done around 300 km that day, training. So, the journalist came back the next morning and the desk informed him that indeed, he had missed Eddy again, he was already out training, another 300 km plus day... That's how you become a legend, never stop pushing yourself to best as best as you can be..
@@johank1061 Synthetic EPO was not even in existence way back then, not EVEN as/for a purely experimental hardcore, purely MEDICAL treatment for anemia, cardiovascular and pulmonary disease sufferers. Now, all of the rest (blood 'doping'/packing, as done by Scandinavian cross-country skiers and distance runners at that time), the amphetamines he was accused of using, etc., I don't know.
Merckx (and his kind were) was so so at best. For starters, he (and the rest) rode inferior steel bikes with inferior Campagnolo, Cinelli, 32x3X wheels, friction shifters, cage pedals, side pull brakes......, all metal. YUCK! Everything was wrong; he didn't spin. His cranks weren't 150mm. Nothing was "aero". Forget this worthless, out of it codger. Today's cyclists are the real stars.
I've been there many times, pushing my limits to where I couldn't articulate a complete sentence. It has to do with having a peak cardio and skeletal system. However age is very real and now I listen more to my body.
@@Pipe_JL if you are in search of the truth, I would say it's based on body language. TP finishes races today in 2024 like he isn't even breathing hard on a monumental climb, beating doped records by several minutes... when you watch videos of Lemond or Merckx there is a "struggle" that any rider of any ability would believe and relate to
Great video. Thank you. I have read Half Man Half Bike a couple times now. It is amazing read. Its hard to comprehend how dominating his performances were. Absolute legend
I have been told this many times by retired pros. Before the start of any race with Merckx in it, professionals looked at each other and said, "You know we are all just here racing for second place."
Anyone cycling in his era, pro or amateur were in awe of this man. The media had run out of superlatives in an Endeavour to describe his race performances. Young boys, men and older men were astounded and delighted in watching him , reading about him in cycling weekly . He was and is an inspiration for life in all sorts of different ways, because of the deep respect for him as a human being. A great man and The Greatest Cyclist of all time. No one has come even close to evoking the passion and respect he generated. Simply the Best. Head and shoulders above all.🇧🇪👍🏻 Thank you Eddy Merckx.
To get an idea just how good Merckx was, when he set the World hour record in 1972, he also set the 10 and 20 km records simultaneously. His record stood for 12 years and was only beaten through the use of aerodynamic accoutrements. In 1997, the UCI banned all these aerodynamic aids and the best time under the new rules was 49.7 km, only 269 m more than Merckx.
And on an indoor track. Sheltered from wind......... Merckx' '72 record was set at the end of a FULL SEASON. Let me repeat : At the end of a FULL SEASON. (Look up his '72 season alone entries/wins. HOLA!) No months of specialized training. Mexico City (OUTDOOR track) was a last minute location, practice was only four days. Any questions......?
@@death2pc the altitude would have made oxygen more scarce even tho decreasing the wind/air friction/resistance. I would think the lack of O2 would limit the results but not clear.
Eddy Merckx is truly the greatest cyclist of all time. It incredible to think about how he rode those bikes without helmets, something that would not be legal today. Modern riders wouldn't be able to survive the intense challenges that Merckx faced, as we are simply not built the same way as those legendary.
The greatest cyclist, no question. Probably the greatest athlete. His career would have gone on longer if it weren't for injury and burning himself out.
Eddy combined all the characteristics needed to be the best, not just good in a couple of things! In those days the athletes did not earn enough money to retire, Eddy founded his factory, and offered a job at his former team mates, not just a fantastic athlete in my opinion! Revealing was the interview with Joop Zoetemelk when the journalist asked why he didn’t overtake Eddy in the sprint after ‘sucking the wheel’, and Joop replied that it was a super performance just riding right behind EM!
Unless I missed it, you forgot to mention the hour record. It has been broken, but it is hard to make an apples and apples comparison of former and present records.
Agreed! Actually, it would be kind of fun if every record was connected to the gear used in it. That would mean a lot of lists to keep updated, but honestly I would love to see Ganna racing around the Velodrome on a boneshaker.
Most of today's pros (unless they were former world class pursuiters, or are the current very best TT riders) would not even think about attempting that torturous 'record of truth'. 😉
Eddy came in 2nd in that Tour where he got punched in the ribs as the video states. You should know that bruised ribs make it painful to breathe. But also during that same race, he was rolling up to the start finish line before the start and failed to get his foot out of the toe-clip before full stopping and fell over and broke his jaw and had his jaw wired shut the rest of the race and was forced to take nutrition in a liquid no chewing form. So not only was he gifted, dedicated and smart he also was very determined!
If you thought you could follow him uphill, reconsider following him downhill. He had incredible bike control. There's one moment in the 1975 Tour de France (which he lost) , where he goes downhill on the attack in the high mountains and the motors and cars are too afraid to follow him.
With relaxed testing and the “Code of Silence” will entrusted in all who joined the Pro ranks. It was safe to say, many raced with assistance. Just look at the insane racing calendar they raced, also stage distances were brutal.
...or a pitiful one sentence blurb in The New York Times (NOT even in the Sports section, no less, since it was not considered a 'sport' here in the states then 😠😠).
The project of development team Aktion was one of best for young talent riders ,just look the number of riders who were in that team and today they are in some of the best teams in the world, bravo Axel Merckx !
En todas sus entrevistas, de ahora y de antes, me parece una persona extraordinariamente humana. Tuvo que trabajar duro para tener su primera bicicleta, porque aunque sus padres poseían una pequeña tienda de ultramarinos y podían comprársela prefirieron que supiera lo que era pelear por los sueños. El Ogro solo lo era encima de la bicicleta. Todo el mundo adora, ahora, a Eddy por todo lo que ganó. Yo le adoro por como supo asimilar tanta gloria como el chico de barrio humilde que nunca dejó de ser.
There was a lot less competition in those days, the teams were also build around one leader. The sport was less global, less professional, and much lower level then it is today. If Eddy Merckx was born in this era he would be a rider like Wout van Aert at most.
To make it short: In my humble opinion, there are four categories in pro cycling which really count. Time Trial, Climbing, Sprint, Rouleur. Dont confuse Time Tiral with Rouleur, thats not the same. A Rouleur is a guy who can ride very fast over 100 or 200 kilometers and more without needing someone around him. Great Rouleur's are George Hincapie and Jens Voigt in their prime. Jan Ullrich was a better time trialist then Voigt, but Voigt was the better rouleur. Merckx was imo the only rider in cycling history, who had in these four categories either a 9 or 10, there is no 8 or weaker. Not Coppi, not Indurain, not Hinault, not Anquetil, not Armstrong, and not any of todays riders has this total package. And since he had either a 9 or 10 in those four major categories, he won so many races and is simply the GOAT.
Merckx is the best cyclist of all time by far. First of all he has won the most victories but he was facing amazing opponents that are also ranked among the best cyclists of all time like Thevenet, Van Impe, Zoetemelk, De Vlaeminck, ...Even Hinault, the second best rider of all-time, said that if Merckx would be riding in the 80's He would have won 10 Tour de France.
Easily the best ever. And that in a time with such strong riders he still was extremely dominant. Nothing I have ever seen (well...I never saw him actually) comes close, although Bernard Hinault comes to mind. To me Hinault is the second best rider ever. After that probably Anquetil. Might have missed someone.
@@keirbateman267 You can't compare a female with a man. Not because females are inferior but because in female racing even today the competitionis nowhere as close as in men. But she was surely amazing regardless.
I remember diving into his list of wins and notable finishes some 25 years ago when I began to take in the history of European cycling...this was in step with Armstrong’s wins at the Tour....I was already a serious young roadie at the time with maybe 5 years under my belt, and a beautiful NOS CANNONDALE 3.0 built up with Campagnolo Mirage components under my sore butt.... We cannot judge cyclings past....and that is up to and including Armstrong.....the benefits to cycling as a Worldwide sport, and a industry are immeasurable....and Competitors are born first, then shaped ....then unleashed
And I forgot to add...hearing Eddy’s accomplishments again now at the age of 47, is nothing short of incredible......and I think even Lance would find Eddy’s name falling from his mouth in answering....”who was the greatest? “
Good summary! I think the time frame makes me lend that the World wars had an effect. Since people wouldn't be wanting to give birth during the war efforts which would line up almost perfectly for Eddy to not have a huge populous of cyclists birthed in those years making him easier to stand out. Another thing you forgot to mention was the hour record that he did. Which was right in the middle of his racing season whereas later on it would develop into people training specifically for that event.
I am built exactly like Eddy Merckx...same height, leg/arm length etc. Most would agree for a cyclist, Eddie had pretty skinny legs and wide hips. What made Eddy special is what you can't see, his plumbing. Same with Secretariat.
I suppose it’s possible that like Secretariat he has a larger heart. At autopsy it was determined that Secretariats heart was 4 pounds heavier than his biggest rival and pumping blood pretty important, no? Cheers
His sister was also exceptionally good at suppling him with pharmaceutical products at a time when others were still using old-school doping techniques.
Behind a great man there's always a great woman... Although he was caught 3 times, I don't know what was normal back then, but nowadays, it sounds a lot.
Several years ago Merkx participated in a charity event in Marin County, north of San Francisco. By sheer good fortune I was standing in the area where his van stopped. Eddy got out of the passenger side, the side I was on. If he wasn’t busy I’d have tried to shake hands with him. But he WAS busy, prepping one of his factory’s gorgeous bikes, with the ride officially starting in only a few moments. What impressed me most about “The Cannibal” was how compact he was, considering he humiliated every rider of his era. I’m 5’10” and 165 lb and was very close to Eddy’s size. What that said to me was the toughest athletes are possessed by an obsessively competitive nature, and in addition the inner strength that enables the rider’s physiology to withstand the unbelievable amount of punishment it is forced to endure, year after year. While there is only one Eddy Merkx, it pleased me to learn that world beaters coming all sizes, including medium. To the 17-year-old considered too small for the football team but with a fighting spirit, I would recommend getting into bicycle racing, where the average-sized competitor has the advantage over stronger riders who weighty musculature slows them on the climbs.
A DRUG CHEAT. Strange that this has not been mentioned. Sad that such an extraordinary athlete felt it necessary to do so. It surely helped him win races. And it surely harmed his heart.
They were ALL DRUG CHEATS! They were all testing the limits of what was acceptable, and they are still doing it today. In that aspect, he playing field was absolutely level for all riders. And he still won 525 victories
This guy won 7 times Milan -San Remo ,6 times Liège bastogne Liège, 1Vuelta ,5Giros ,5 tours, in the 3 grand tours combined he won 65 stages !! And this is just Grand Tours and 2 classic monuments!!! It will be impossible to someone beat the record of 65 stage wins on the 3 week races !
No; electronic shifting, fully aero road bikes/skinsuits, head units for pacing, cushy 30C tires, modern in race hydration/fueling products, etc. either!
He had three positives, the first highly suspect, the second for prescribed cold medicine with the banned drug not even listed on the bottle, the third which he later admitted to was late in his career when he was way past his prime.
@@jaycahow4667 I disagree. Testing positive multiple times in a time where there were barely any (good) tests and lots of riders were on all kinds of amphetaminenes and painkillers, but never got caught, thats at least notable. I generally don't like the double standards around doping in cycling. If you doped in the 90's or early 00's your career in this world is finished. But if you did it before that like Merckx or after like Contador for example, nobody seems to give a shit. GCN won't even mention the name Armstrong anywhere in their programmes, while having Contador on as an expert. Just leaving positive tests out in a media piece about someones full cycling career doesn't reflect well on the credibility of the creator imo.
No, I see Merckx more objectively than some whose comments I read here. He doped to win, just like and ENTIRE generation of professionals who followed him. Doping is part of the professional peloton. Merckx is no cleaner or dirtier than Armstrong or ANY other doped pro cyclist. Yea, it's a bitter pill you have to deal with, not me. I don't approve of doping in sport, but I will NOT put Merckx on a pedestal.
great at doping which was unregulated at that time. All the records of the past were performed with PEDs and those who think it was natural you all need to wake up. Great rider given the times but he had advantages lets just leave it at that.
Maybe, but, the PEDs of that era were NOWHERE NEAR as beneficial, or effective as the current day's EPO/HGH, etc. Some (like the then popular amphetamines in some circumstances, for instance) may have even HURT their performances more than they helped them, such was the pharmacological ignorance as concerns endurance athletics way back then. Simpson DIED, right on a mountain stage, due to this.
How good was Le Cannibale? He is the greatest athlete, not just racing cyclist ever! 4 world titles, every classic except Paris Tours, All 3 major tours, minor tours, minor classics, hour record, over 20 six day races, just to start! He would turn up and race local criteriums just to increase the purse for local riders! Not one of today's riders would hold his wheel when he attacked. By any measurement his palmares is light years in front of todays boys. Only Coppi comes close, when you consider Coppi lost 4 of his best years to WW2!
This should be required watching for ALL pro cycling fans. There is only one GOAT and it's Merckx. No one will ever eclipse the career he had. Lots of people get the gross hyperbole of 'next goat' like Pogacar, but there's not a snowball's chance in hell that Pog can ever win 525 pro races, let alone the depth and breadth of Merckx's pal mares. Well done, Scott.
@@teddansonLA impossible to compare and if you're going to compare Merckx to today's riders, I will raise your statement with this... today's riders wouldn't be able to win as much if they were racing against Merckx et al in their era.
@@johnandrews3568 But you made a statement which makes that comparison. My point is that the comparison you have made favours Merckx. Merckx was the best of his time, no doubt - that's probably all you can say. _today's riders wouldn't be able to win as much_ The best of them would win more that they would win today - that's the point. Pogacar or Wout Van Aert could win the tour in 1970, as well as the spring classics.
@@teddansonLA bottom line is... no one but Eddy Merckx can claim GOAT status until they have eclipsed 525 wins. I would hazard a guess if you could take any current WT rider back to 1970 and put them on a steel bike with a straight block and wool kit.. they would for sure struggle. If you took Eddy or Roger in their prime, and brought them into the future with carbon frames, easier gearing and lycra kits, they'd do much better than the other way around. But it's all for nothing cuz no one has a time machine.
Eddy Merckx le roi des rois sans égale pour l éternité et des siecles. Merci monsieur Eddy Merckx de m avoir fait rêver que dieu vous protège vous et votre famille.
I have my doubts about Pogs legality in these modern times sponsored by a team with unlimited funding . Back in Merckx day i dont think there were these supplements were there ?? Please enlighten me. i luv my cycling as a fan and a participant.
They did mind boggling amount of drugs in his era and before. More than than during controversies…cocaine, crack, amphetamines, heroin, testosterone. There were no drugs tests. They all took it. No one cared.
@@johnb2044 Of course, the pharmaceutical industry was pretty primitive back then - just uppers, really. Not like they could turn a donkey into a racehorse like they did for LA.
@@stevemawer848 Yes, basically speed only. The EPO hormone's genome had not even been isolated yet at that time, let alone duplicated for synthetic EPO manufacturing way back then, even by the world's top scientists. Now blood 'packing.doping' WAS around back then, and fully undetectable (NO hematocrit tests given to winning pros or other endurance athletes), if not even NOT actually illegal then. ?
