Eddy Merckx: the man behind the legend

Winner of over 500 races, era-defining rider, son of a grocer and a grandfather just turned 71. Who is the real Eddy Merckx?

Photo: Chris Catchpole

Sports fans always like to fire up the old debate over who is the greatest in a sport’s history. Is Pele, Maradona, Ronaldo, or Bobby Moore the greatest ever footballer? In tennis is it Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, John McEnroe or Steffi Graf?

When it comes to cycling the debate never gets very far. We know the answer. Eddy Merckx is the greatest cyclist of all time.

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