Eddy Merckx, born on June 17, 1945, in Meensel-Kiezegem, Belgium, is widely considered the greatest cyclist in the history of the sport. His dominance and versatility across various terrains and race formats earned him the nickname "The Cannibal." Here are some key highlights and achievements from Eddy Merckx's legendary career:
Grand Tour Dominance: Merckx won a total of 11 Grand Tours, which include five Tours de France (1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974), five Giro d'Italia (1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974), and one Vuelta a España (1973). His record of 34 stage wins at the Tour de France stood for over four decades.
Monument Classics: Merckx triumphed in numerous one-day races, also known as Monument Classics. He won the prestigious Tour of Flanders (1969, 1975), Paris-Roubaix (1968, 1970, 1973), Liège-Bastogne-Liège (1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975), Milan-San Remo (1966, 1967, 1969, 1971), and the Giro di Lombardia (1971, 1972, 1973).
World Championships: Merckx claimed the rainbow jersey of the UCI Road World Championships three times, in 1967, 1971, and 1974. He also won the Road Race World Championship as an amateur in 1964.
Hour Record: In 1972, Merckx set a new Hour Record by covering a distance of 49.431 kilometers in one hour at the Mexico City Velodrome. His record stood for 12 years.
