SPORTS
Eddy 'The Cannibal' Merckx, the greatest competitive cyclist of all time, recounts his career and discusses the state of the sport today.
Eddy Merckx is simply the greatest rider of all time. Nicknamed The Cannibal for his insatiable appetite for victories, he won virtually every important race, many of them several times.
Born on June 17, 1945, Merckx rode for 13 seasons, but totally dominated cycling for 10 years like no one else has before or since.
The Belgian won the Amateur World Championship Road Race in 1964 and then turned pro in 1965.His first major victory as a pro racer came in the 1966 Milan-San Remo. He was just 20. His last major victory was in the same event 10 years later.
At his peak, from 1969 through 1975, Merckx won an astounding 35% of the races he entered. He won the Tour de France five times, the Giro d'Italia five times, and the Vuelta a Espana once for a total of 11 Grand Tour victories.
He won each of cycling’s five monuments (Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Tour of Lombardy) more than twice, for a record of 19 victories in these races.
His record of 525 victories, including 445 as a professional, is untouchable. He is the only rider to have won all the classifications (overall, mountains, and points jerseys) in a single year at the Tour de France (1969) and the Giro d’Italia (1968).
He won the Tour-Giro double in 1970, 1972, and 1974. He won the Giro d'Italia-Vuelta a Espana double in 1973.
He has 34 Tour de France stage wins (a record), including six stages in 1969 and 1972, and eight in 1970 and 1974. In 1974, he won the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France, and the World Championship Road Race to achieve the cycling ‘Triple Crown’. That feat has been repeated only one other time: by Stephen Roche in 1987.
Merckx retired on May 17, 1978, at the age of 32. In Mumbai for a day in connection with the Tour de Mumbai, to be held on February 21 at the Bandra Reclamation, the cyclist nonpareil spoke to DNA in an exclusive interview. Excerpts:
Which was the most memorable moment of your career?
Winning the Tour de France for the first time in 1969 was the most memorable. First, it was after 30 years that a Belgian cyclist had won the Tour. Secondly, ever since I started cycling I had dreamt of donning the yellow jersey at the end of the Tour in Paris.
Soon after winning the 1969 Tour, you had a horrific crash. How difficult was it to make a comeback?
Yeah, it was horrific. I almost lost my life. My trainer died in the accident. I had a gashed head, a broken vertebra, and a twisted pelvis. It was never the same after the injury. Training became harder. Climbs were not that easy.
When I won my first Tour, the second-placed rider was some 18 minutes behind. When I won it again the next year, the gap was down to 11 minutes. So, you see, it was difficult. I really worked hard and overcame mental barriers to achieve those records.
How difficult was it to quit the sport, which you had dominated for such a long time?
It wasn’t that difficult. I had raced a lot. I don’t remember the year, but I took part in close to 195 races in one year. As a cyclist I always raced to win. But later on it became really hard for me, not physically but mentally, to keep up the same tempo. Mentally the pressure was too high, and when you feel the training become hard and also winning the races, it is time to call it quits.
Also in those days we didn’t earn that much as today’s professionals do. Around that time life was not only about racing. We had to look after the family, so I started my own bicycle factory.
How has the sport changed since your days as a competitive cyclist?
Most of the big name riders focus on the Tour. I agree it is the most important event, but cycling is not only about the Tour. If everybody thinks like Armstrong, there will be only one race [in the calendar]. The sport will benefit when big name riders start races. Around my time we use to compete all round the year.
Do your think Lance Armstrong can win his eighth Tour de France?
It will not be easy for Armstrong to win the Tour now. But it’s not impossible as well. At this point, Contador is the most complete rider. I hope Lance can win, but it is not easy to win the Tour with so many other good riders around. When you make a comeback, it is totally different from when you are racing regularly. I’m very impressed with what he is doing.
Do you think UCI (the International Cycling Federation) has done enough to arrest the spurt of doping incidents, which have dented cycling’s image over the years?
Yeah, I think so. But it's not only cycling which has suffered because of dope cheats. Each and every sport has had a negative effect on it because of such incidents. I think no other federation does so much dope testing as the cycling federation. UCI has done brilliant work towards ridding the sport of it [the scourge of drugs]. If you try to cheat they will the catch you.
UCI recently started the pro-tour to popularise the sport? Do you think it will help cycling?
Yeah, it will. But there are too many races. And there is no security that the best in the business will start most of the races on the pro-tour. The teams may but not the top cyclists. It's like you have 18 Grand Prix and drivers are allowed to skip some of them.
Is this your first visit to India?
This is my second visit. I came to India some 15 years ago. I heard about Manali and Leh and landed with my bike over there. It was a 10-day gruelling ride. And I must say climbs in Leh were much more difficult than those at the Tour or Giro d’Italia.
DNA TV Show: Why Gautam Adani charged with bribery and fraud in US
IND vs AUS: Records Virat Kohli can break during Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Diljit Dosanjh fans get angry over Ananya Panday's birthday post for her grandmother, here's why
Reddit suffers outage with ‘upstream connect error’ message, says 'currently investigating...'
Border-Gavaskar Trophy: How has Jasprit Bumrah fared in Tests in Australia?
Delhi records coldest night of the season, temp drops to...
Crossing the Line: Ukraine's Use of Storm Shadow Missiles and the Escalation of Conflict
When Malaika Arora talked about the controversial ‘instant pleasure’ ad, it was for…
This is the world’s most expensive shopping street, not Fifth Avenue, New Bond Street, it is...
Big setback for Gautam Adani, Kenya cancels Rs 6216 crore deal with Adani Group due to...
Viral video: Man’s jugaad to stay warm in winter will leave you SHOCKED, watch here
Hinduja Group firm gets key approval for acquisition of Anil Ambani's debt-ridden Reliance Capital
Viral video: Middle-Class man lives dream of having tea at Taj Hotel, netizens applauds
Shloka Mehta looks stunning in white floral kurta as she clicked with Akash Ambani, it costs Rs....
Who is Sagar Adani, Gautam Adani's nephew, accused of bribery, fraud charges in US?
PayPal down: Several users face issue while logging into accounts, say 'no one could...'
IND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins eye historic captaincy milestone in Perth Test
BGT 2024, Ind vs Aus: Can Shubhman Gill be the new Cheteshwar Pujara? Is he really ready?
The Ultimate Guide to Luxury Gifting: Discover Heirloom Pashmina by Pashmina.com
Effortless Relocations: The Perks Of Professional Removalists In Melbourne
Watch: Pakistan fan with 'Imran Khan' poster asked to leave Hobart stadium in Australia
International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for...
What is demisexuality? Everything you need to know about this lesser-known sexual orientation
WATCH: World’s shortest woman meets world’s tallest woman, video goes viral
IND vs AUS 1st Test: Predicted playing XIs, Perth weather forecast and pitch report
IND vs AUS: When will Rohit Sharma join India squad? Check latest update
'Scam 2024': Diljit Dosanjh lookalike pranks people on Pune streets, video goes viral
Delhi Air Pollution: Centre announces staggered work timings for govt employees; check details
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio loses nearly 80 lakh subscribers in just 30 days, BSNL adds...
IND vs AUS, 1st Test Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs Australia match
This country has most expensive passport in world, not US, UK, UAE, it costs Rs...
Amitabh Bachchan opens up on Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek Bachchan divorce rumours
Amid rising air pollution, Delhi-NCR's crematorium records cleanest air; check AQI here
Revolutionising Medical Imaging: Venudhar Rao Hajari’s impact on healthcare technology
Abhishek Gupta and Onevision Media: Scaling brands on social media
Video shows Korean girl eating jalebi for first time, her reaction to Indian sweet goes viral
Cristiano Ronaldo confirms THIS YouTube star as his next guest, says, 'Will break Internet'
Delhi Assembly Elections: AAP releases first list of 11 candidates for 2025 polls
Adani Group's FIRST REACTION after US indicts Gautam Adani in alleged bribery case
Instagram introduces new feature, know how to reset app's algorithm, change your feed
No mention of Aaradhya Bachchan in Amitabh Bachchan's post on birthdays, it happened recently
Oppo Find X8 and X8 Pro launched in India, check specifications, price, other details
Charges against Gautam Adani: BJP's scathing attack on Congress, questions timing of development
Jasprit Bumrah's BIG statement on taking up Perth test captaincy, says, 'tactically better...'
Blackout on breaks: Company imposes no-sick-leave policy until 2025
Drug-laden terrorists on India's western, northern frontiers
Mohammad Shami trolls Sanjay Manjrekar over IPL auction bid prediction, says, 'Baba ki...'
IND vs AUS Test: When and where to watch 1st match of Border-Gavaskar trophy, know details here
CAQM amends Grap Stages III, IV, enforces stricter measures in Delhi-NCR amid air pollution woes
Malayalam actor Meghanathan passes away at 60 after suffering from...
Adani Green Energy's FIRST reaction after US indicts Gautam Adani in alleged bribery case
'Keep me out of...': Pakistani Instagram star Mathira on MMS leak controversy
Delhi Air Pollution: AQI marginally improves from 'severe' to 'very poor' category
Meet actress who worked with Alia Bhatt, was asked to 'compromise', connected to Aishwarya Rai by..
Aishwarya Rai’s remark on Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘habits’ goes viral amid divorce rumours with Abhishek
Rekha's BOLD statement about Amitabh Bachchan goes viral, 'why hurt...'
Meet man, IITian who built Rs 5493 crore firm, has this Mukesh Ambani connection, he is from...
Shillong Teer Results TODAY November 21, 2024 Live Updates: Check winning numbers here
‘I didn’t have time to…’: When AR Rahman revealed having ‘agreement’ before marriage to Saira Banu
Amitabh Bachchan praises Abhishek Bachchan's new film, netizens ask 'kash ye Aishwarya...'
Viral video: Woman's sizzling belly dance to 'Namak' impresses internet, watch
Hardik Pandya banned, Mumbai Indians captain to miss first match of IPL 2025 due to...
Meet man who studied at IIM, IIT, then built Rs 1160000000 company, got inspired by…
Meet woman, who quit as dentist for UPSC exam, became IAS officer with AIR...