Contents
Athlete
Eddy Merckx
Famoose for
Winning across cycling’s Grand Tours and one-day classics.
Five Tours · Hour record
- Born
- 17 June 1945
- Birthplace
- Meensel-Kiezegem, Belgium
More people
Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx is a Belgian cyclist whose appetite for victories earned him the nickname the Cannibal.
Early life
Family shop
Grew up with parents who ran a grocery store.
Amateur racing
Won the amateur world road title in 1964.
Career
- 1965
Professional start
Joined Solo–Superia.
- 1968–1974
Grand Tours
Won eleven Grand Tours.
- 1978
Retirement
Ended his professional racing career.
Achievements
Five Tours
Won the Tour de France five times.
Hour record
Set a new record in Mexico City.
All five Monuments
Won each of cycling’s five leading one-day classics.
Beyond cycling
Bicycle business
Founded a bicycle manufacturing company.
Family
His son Axel also became a professional cyclist.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Panini. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
