Nada hacía suponer, cuando la figura de Eddy Merckx apareció entre los ciclistas a mateurs, que había surgido la figura más grande del ciclismo until then. He had above TES family activity, and stronger support, was a desire for victory beyond the ordinary. According to its main rival, Luis Ocaña: Eddy was not enough to win one day ... I wanted to do the next day ... and the next day too.
Thus, the first flash was seen on September 5, 1964, in Sallanches, in the amateur world championship. They all hoped to see win the Italian Felice Gimondi promise, but had to content with a virtually unknown 19: Eddy Merckx.
In 1965 he became professional, entering the team which included Rik Van Looy. In the 1969 Tour was clear that Merckx was a phenomenon of cycling. But this year there was a terrible accident that led to the death of his coach Wambst, and he, to be near her.
In 1970 Paris-Roubaix runs against the biggest winner of that race of all time: Roger de Vlaeminck. At first, Merckx is not fit and was thinking of leaving. It binds to a seven-man breakaway. Click on the worst moment, and then unleashes the most ferocious persecution of cycling history imposed for more than five minutes.
In the 1971 Tour would be facing the risk only rival at this stage of his physical peak: English Luis Ocaña. Ocaña remembered him well: He had a horror of a certain defeatist mentality that prevailed in the bunch. Resignation so revolted me. Merckx thought could be beaten in the Tour, especially in the high mountains.
For the 1971 Tour, Merckx wore down Ocaña in promotions with fast transmission ratios 42X16. In the Puy de Dome, Merckx hesitates and lets out a few seconds for his rivals. In Stage d'Orcieres Merlette is defeated at Ocaña and loses about nine minutes. At the end of this stage Merckx explained, I was told I was doing a lot but I did not listen to anyone. The simple truth is, I'm paying four years of continuous efforts.
But when all the Tour was already set, winning it Merckx finished brilliantly on the stage of Col de Mente. Ocaña, victim of a fall, you should leave this great trip.
The 1972 Tour de Ocaña defeats a worn, and by 1973, decided not to participate in the Tour de France, who easily won the English in their full physical. Merckx argued a very large calendar and much lamented at the time that this match is not defined there. Some judged that had eluded consciousness Merckx confrontation. In 1972 Eddy Merckx
prepares to break the hour record. Like Ritter in 1968 choose the Velodrome in Mexico at 2240 m altitude. Trains in the garage of his home with a simulator and a mixture of air he called Mexican, and despite the poor preparation, leads the record of the time at 49.431 km. Finally in 1974
his fifth Tour win, equaling the record of Anquetil, and his fifth Giro, matching Coppi and Binda.
In 1975 Thévenet faces, and for the first time, ranks second on the podium of the Tour. Has ceased to be the strongest and recognize it, but in 1976 achieved his seventh victory in the Milan-San Remo, a record unmatched to date.
In total he won 525 races throughout his splendid record of 1,800 in which it participated. After to have achieved it all, a May 18, 1978 said goodbye to professional cycling. Merckx star comes off slowly and Hinault. Currently, among other investments, Eddy Merckx bicycle factory run a bearing his name.
Merckx MOURENX 
Luchon stage left. Merckx was the leader after winning the Ballon d'Alsace stages, the time trial in Divonne-les-Bains and ending in Digne. It had an 8 '21 "on Roger Pingeon, recent winner of the Vuelta, 9' 29" on Gimondi and 12 '46 "on Poulidor. Merckx was also the leader of the points classification, the mountains and combined. It was the queen stage of this year. Five mountain passes in 214 km: Peyresourde at km 13, at 44 Aspin, Tourmalet in 74, Soulor at 130 and Aubisque at 140. From the top of the latter, there were still 74 km to the finish flat Mourenx. The ascent to the Peyresourde unfolds peacefully. Galera is the first to pass the summit with a few seconds ahead of Bellone, DANCELLI and Merckx. Even then there are regrouping in the Aspin, the situation is very similar. The ascent of the Tourmalet in the bunch clustered. Head is formed in a group of 14 runners and the top pass Merckx first, followed by Vandenbossche. A 5 "passed Zimmerman, Poulidor and Gutty, a 10" Bayssiere, Theillière, Pingeon and Gandarias. Obsessed with avoiding a possible fall caused by the decrease in group launches solo Merckx to Luz-Saint-Sauveur. In Algiers, the advantage is 1 'on Pingeon, Poulidor, Bayssière, Theillière, Zimmerman and Vandenbossche; Gimondi is already at 4'. Despite the enormous distance that remained to target (140 km) Merckx remains alone and in the foothills of Aubisque his lead has increased to 3 '30. "Aubisque In the transition, and are 7'. 35 km from Mourenx reaches 7 '30 ", although it is faint. At the finish line, Merckx wins stage with a lead of about 8 'on the group, led by DANCELLI. Since then became known as Eddy Merckx "The Cannibal." And he suggested that Mourenx be renamed "Mourenckx"
MERCKX THE TUBULAR
Tour of Flanders, April 6, 1975. In the spring of 1975, Eddy Merckx was racing. Since the beginning of the season had won the Giro of Sardinia, Milan-San Remo, Amstel Gold Race (then disputed sooner), and Catalan Week. And Merckx was because last year his season had not fully satisfied; clear who had won the Tour, Giro and World Championship but its share in the s classic was not the usual. So at the start of the Tour of Flanders had told his grandfather: "Maybe there will be 10 'between the victor and the peloton, but the difference is great." Of course, Eddy could not think of a winner but him. The Kwaremont is one of the "walls" or "bergs" that dot the route of the classical flamenco. The distance to target was 104 km. But that's where Merckx launched an irresistible attack. Frans Verbeek only got speed enough to put his wheel. Verbeek was a good runner classic, but failed to win too. Between 1965 and 1976 came second in fifteen times five of them behind Merckx, but also won 2 Het Volk, Fleche Wallonne and 1 1 Belgian championship (this time in front of "Cannibal"). Verbeek says: "I tried to give relay from time to time. He did what he could, but could not much ... I do not talk much, with Eddy not talk much, and he asked nothing. After 10 km. I realized I was getting to finish well, but I do not know if I could stay with him. " Behind, Maertens, and Demeyer Pollentier tried to give chase. In Kruisberg, the difference from a squad of 31 runners was 45 "after 35 km of game there were only 15; in Varenberg, 65 km to go, 9. It was then that the differences
increased. Verbeek account: "In the Gramont, I saw nothing I thought I had something in his eyes and called my director to ask for a handkerchief ... but there was nothing I could not see because it was cast. Bosberg In the last climb I was afraid to stay, was very bad ... I think Merckx had compassion and was retained to keep me. " But compassion has its limits and 5 km to go, Merckx attacked to come alone. Verbeek finished 30 "later and Demeyer, third, 5 '2". Verbeeek states: "... I am happy for this second place. He was second behind a great Merckx was rolling ... provided with two teeth less than me. I've seen most of all its tubular rear: A Clément. " 
