Confession time.
I have always thought I might be part Belgium. There I’ve said it.
The reason for this perhaps startling admission is my love of singer Jacques Brel (Belgian), the cartoon Tin Tin (created by Herge, Belgian), and cyclist Eddy Merckx (Belgian)
If I had to pick just one of those names as my top Belgian from that list it would be have to Merckx. He so dominated his sport from the late 60s, into the mid 1970s, his was a name that was known to me back then, even though no one I knew, had not the slightest clue what the Tour de France was all about, let alone the Vuelta de Espana and Giro d’Italia.
But somehow we knew Merckx. Ok, it may have just been an exotic name on a coveted bike frame, but his name was readily recognised.
Years later I started watching the Tour de France highlights package in the mid 80s and I slowly became fascinated by it. During the commentaries then, you would regularly hear of the riding record and exploits of Eddy Merckx. He was simply the most iconic name and figure of the sport on both road and track.
A few years ago, I picked up a DVD that looked back on his greatest moments on a bike and simply watched in awe as the man they called ‘The Cannibal’ – he simply ‘ate’ anyone who dared to take him on, on two wheels (Italian fans dubbed him ‘Il Mostro’, the monster) – was an immense figure.
The June of 1945 saw the arrival of Edouard Louis Joseph baron Merckx. The son of a grocer he was riding a bike by the age of 4, and winning amateur races at 16.
A professional at 21, major victories came in the colours of Peugeot – BP – Michelin, before he picked up his first grand tour win for the Faema team in the Giro d’ Italia of 1968, becoming the first Belgian to do so.
It was just the start. 1969 marks the start of his domination of the Tour de France. That year he wins the yellow overall winner’s jersey, as well as being first in the mountains and points classifications. He repeated the overall win of the tour in 1970 as well as picking up his second Giro d’Italia win. It was yellow again in 1971 and in 1972, the TdF was his again, plus the Giro, as well as breaking the fabled hour record, extending it by 800 metres.
By this stage of his career, Merckx was at the very top of the sport. His will to win, legendary. ‘The day when I start a race without intending to win it, I won’t be able to look at myself in the mirror.’
He had one more Tour de France win in 1974, his fifth. That year, he also became the first rider to achieve the Triple Crown of Cycling — Tour, Giro d’Italia and World Championship all in one season — and only legendary Irish rider Stephen Roche, has done it since.
He was placed second in 1975, in an eventful race which saw him being attacked with a punch by a roadside spectator, which left him with an enlarged liver, and suffering from a broken cheekbone from an earlier crash.
His career was not without scandal. He was accused of doping, sadly par for the course during his era of racing and of course that is still an on-going issue.
Merckx finally retired in 1978 following doctor’s advice. In the end, he had a total of 525 victories in 18 years on a saddle. His will to win was phenomenal.
“I’ve had it since birth,’ he explained. ‘When I was little I played football and I wanted to win. I played basketball and I wanted to win. I played cards… and I wanted to win. I don’t know how to lose,’ he adds. ‘It’s not that I fear losing, I’m just a bad loser.’
He set up Eddy Merckx cycles in 1980 and that would be where I first became aware of his name.
Now, since the British wins of the Tour de France by Wiggins and Froome, road cycling is as popular as ever here in the UK. However, it can still be a baffling thing to follow. I watched it for a few years, before fully working it out. It is now a global event and a very special spectacle.
I have heard it said, that it is the ultimate mod sport what with the colourful jerseys and dare I say, the use of drugs by some…
I guess that is a small part of why I love it and Mr Merckx so?
Allez Allez!
The Mumper of SE5
