What Made Eddy Merckx The Greatest Ever? | Marking 50 Years Since First Tour de France Win

What Made Eddy Merckx The Greatest Ever? | Marking 50 Years Since First Tour de France Win | inCycle

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5 жыл бұрын

As the Tour de France marks fifty years since The Cannibal's first Tour Victory, inCycle looks at what made Eddy Merckx the greatest cyclist of all time. With the help of biographer Johny Vansevenant and the man himself, we look back at some of his best wins, learn what made him such a formidable rider and see how he dealt with life after cycling.
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Пікірлер: 250

@gyp3xp48 2 жыл бұрын

I came into cycling when Eddy Merckx was at the top. For me, he is an enigma, somebody quite different from the rest in his field. An icon for Belgium. It will be a sad day when he leaves us.

@kailexx1962 5 жыл бұрын

Merckx won 500+ races! In this age of specialization I don't think anyone will ever surpass him.

@clu4u 2 жыл бұрын

LE CANNIBAL!

@jimbarron8688 Жыл бұрын

You do appreciate he was a doper right?

@MaFd0n Жыл бұрын

@@jimbarron8688 Provide proof or shut up and crawl back in your hole, thanks.

@Sills71 8 күн бұрын

I read an article once that profiled Eddy's week before one of his TdF wins in 1969, he raced 4 races and rode over 600 MILES total that week.

@NowPleaseReadThis 4 жыл бұрын

His talent plus his drive transcended cycling into the total world of sport. My vote for athlete of the 20th century, and into the 21st.

@coreymihailiuk5189 2 жыл бұрын

There will never be another like him. Truly the greatest of all time.

@Jesse-bb4qj 2 жыл бұрын

Peter.......

@decnijfkris3706 2 жыл бұрын

only 1 Eddy Merckx that is right....

@decnijfkris3706 2 жыл бұрын

@@relaxwithbogo5579 Now Boglan you can't say that about my hero! Shame on you!

@MONYN76ISLAS 2 жыл бұрын

@@decnijfkris3706 another Cycling Mortal 🚴

@decnijfkris3706 2 жыл бұрын

What do you think aof waltons family getting involved in big money cycling? I guess they will shortly have a pro team. Have you seen The Fayetteville track and compared it to what it was last year. Impressive.

@EM-wd2vg 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful short, only just seen this. Truly a great sportsman, they often say you should never meet your hero's but in Merckx's case I would make an exception...

@charlesfosterkane8034 5 жыл бұрын

He used his whole body to move the bicycle, flat back to generate power, high gear inches kept his heart rate down.

@rykadabyka6047 Жыл бұрын

Superb position on the bike.

@osimnod 5 жыл бұрын

Total domination of the sport. And a class act despite the adulation. Legend.

@WildPhotoShooter 3 жыл бұрын

A quiet gentle man off the bike but when on a bike the most fierce competitor. Eddy's achievement of 525 victories will never be surpassed. A true superstar .

@MilesCobbett 5 жыл бұрын

I heard his early race bikes were built by Ferdi Kessels. My race bike in1977-78 was a Kessels Main D'or frame #32. No bike since has been close to the perfection of that Awesome machine.

@nightlife6899 3 жыл бұрын

An understated genius. No ego. No big time nonsense. Just the best.

@michaelfoulkes9502 2 жыл бұрын

Best doper of all time.

@ageary 2 жыл бұрын

Simply Eddy is the G.O.A.T

@nikodemdyzma9330 4 жыл бұрын

Absolute best of the best cyclist ever.

@jakobkristensen9445 4 жыл бұрын

The Greatest Cyclist of all time, the Greatest Grand Tour rider of all time and one of the Greatest Tour de France riders of all time.

@panzer-head Жыл бұрын

And set a World Hour Record to boot.

@brucegelman5582 3 жыл бұрын

To me he is the most dominant force cycling has ever known.Long live Eddy!

@NowPleaseReadThis 3 жыл бұрын

Just watching about Merckx makes me want to go out and pedal/pretend I'm him. It makes me go faster for sure.

@PeakPotential46 3 жыл бұрын

Yea so much motivation 💞💪

@edmondthomas282 5 жыл бұрын

Forget the arguments about whether amphetamine use equates to the blood doping of the Armstrong era. Merckx’s achievements are so great and he dominated races so heavily that there can be no doubt that he is the greatest cyclist of all.

@canitogalicia 5 жыл бұрын

Long live cycling and Eduardo Merckx,,,

@PaulCarterArt 5 жыл бұрын

Inspiring human on many levels thanks for sharing this time capsule of the journey

@paulsolon6229 Жыл бұрын

He doped

@jimihendrix731 4 жыл бұрын

Such a class act, the greatest sportsman of all time.

@michaelfoulkes9502 2 жыл бұрын

Best doper in history.

@L___LL Жыл бұрын

@@michaelfoulkes9502 Stop talking about your absent father

@petinka721 5 жыл бұрын

No doubt that he is bigger than his own sport.

@humstrumbangtwang 5 жыл бұрын

Inspirational.

@jthepickle7 4 жыл бұрын

The question was answered within the first minute, ..."it simply comes from the love of cycling." Who out there has an almost inappropriate love for cycling?

@tomsmith5216 2 жыл бұрын

I'm pretty close, lol. Riding for me is almost addictive. When I start I don't want to stop!

@coppersetup2386 2 жыл бұрын

The greatest without question!

@dirkbaeke2935 2 жыл бұрын

The greatest deceiver ye!

@zennor_man 4 жыл бұрын

Simply the best......

@johnandrews3568 3 жыл бұрын

Greatest of ALL time!

@peterhaslund Жыл бұрын

I once rode with an old geezer from Brussel who used to train with Merckx, I hung onto every last word he told me

@maartenvangansbeke7099 4 жыл бұрын

Jeugdherinneringen...vele mooie uren Radio/Jan Wauters & T.V/ Fred Debruyne... plezier...

@artistglyn 2 жыл бұрын

There will never be another. Not even close. The variety of races, the classics, the grand tours, the dozens of one day events.....no, he will forever be the one.

@LS1conehead Жыл бұрын

Most of today's road superstars would not even DARE to try for the Hour Record, let alone ride in six days on the indoor salad bowls of western Europe!😉

@sealcycle2020 4 жыл бұрын

How is this even a question???????????YES!!!!!! THE . . . GREATEST . . . . EVER!!!!!!! . . if you won it was because Merckx decided to let you win. Just incredible . . . untouchable

@michaelfoulkes9502 2 жыл бұрын

Best doper of all time.

@acewilliams7917 5 жыл бұрын

And he didn't look all skinny like he was on a ice diet.

@quarkyman1 2 жыл бұрын

Eddy told me off at the Ghent 6 day, I didn’t realise my flash was on, it was 1977 he won again with Patrick Sercu.

@raymundnieves5589 5 жыл бұрын

The best!

@pascalaernoudt8870 4 жыл бұрын

Eddy Merckx is supporting Remco Evenepoel, Eddy the cannibal, Remco the rocket

@markhill9275 6 ай бұрын

Greatest athlete, sportsman ever, not just racing cyclist.

@danielraynaud2013 3 жыл бұрын

Le plus grand coureur cycliste de tous les temps......Sans commentaire !...

@shellsbignumber2 5 жыл бұрын

He got a cool name to.

@123reivax123 2 жыл бұрын

The best of all times... There is no doubt.

@bluetickfreddy101 4 жыл бұрын

Great story Thanks

@paulf447 Жыл бұрын

A truly fantastic cyclist

@stuartdryer1352 2 жыл бұрын

The best of the best.

@ig2d 2 жыл бұрын

one of the great sporting nicknames

@christianalmanza3514 4 жыл бұрын

This make me want to cycle

@trackie1957 4 жыл бұрын

So...

@user-bz9ld2go3g 2 жыл бұрын

Imagine if Merckx had the technology that cycling has today

@LS1conehead Жыл бұрын

Probably would have gone 56 KM+ in the hour record on an indoor track! ;)

@leduch Жыл бұрын

@@LS1conehead 56.792

@ltlarrow1 2 жыл бұрын

the year that someone wins the Tour de Suisse, the Giro, the Tour (and 8 stages in the process) and the world road race, all in the same year, then...well, it ain't ever gonna happen

@lordvalentine471 2 жыл бұрын

I have a quart extra Eddy merckx team 7-Eleven sitting in my living room that I bought 30 years ago when I lived in the UK

@jonathanchester5916 2 жыл бұрын

Merckx was the greatest of his era. To say he was/is/will be the greatest of all times is absurd. Cycling has evolved so much since his era and will continue evolve into the future. Of course if we could put every rider from all time past, present and future in the same universe and race then we could really know!

@bimfred Жыл бұрын

it is a much more level playing field now. Times are much closer. Not to mention the evolution of team tactics. His domination, besides Lance, will never be repeated. So, yes, in terms of absolute singular dominance, he is the greatest ever. Road biking’s glory days are passed in the same way you will never have rock bands like Led Zepp of Black Sabbath. They literally defined the genre and can never be ‘surpassed’.

@thelonious-dx9vi 2 жыл бұрын

Steel is real. Long live the King.

@michaelstratton5223 Жыл бұрын

They were already using aluminum in the 70s, no?

@wimdefoort7698 18 күн бұрын

The Armstrong who didnt Bring down, that europe for ya🎉

@alanjwilley3021 Жыл бұрын

The Beast.

@petyrkowalski9887 2 жыл бұрын

Greatest cyclist of all time. Total legend.

@brucekilby9957 2 жыл бұрын

To be so modest says a Lot about Him. Phil Liggett,a legend of La tour himself, calls Eddie the Great Merkcx. Well he should know. 🚲🚲🚲🚲🚓🚲🚲🚑🚲🚲

@lastup4170 5 жыл бұрын

Allez!

@rockroll9473 5 жыл бұрын

Nice

@FLYIN_DAGGERZ 4 жыл бұрын

Anybody else ride a vintage bike? I ride a 1970's Viva sport Univega

@yardsalecycles 4 жыл бұрын

have a few vintage bikes and love them all current project is a Pinorello trevisio

@trackie1957 4 жыл бұрын

I raced a vintage bike - when it was new back in ‘76

@Jerry-rf8bn 4 жыл бұрын

Masi Gran Criterium purchased new in 1976. All original equipment except for saddle. I still have it and it is in excellent condition.

@Terrifier1984 4 жыл бұрын

1978 peugeout columbus frame

@LS1conehead Жыл бұрын

Does my 2000 vintage Merlin Road, Record 10 fitted, qualify in this age of requisite plastic bikes, disc brakes, mile wide rims and 60 PSI tires, and hidden 'aero' everything?? Or is it still too recent to even be labeled 'near retro'?? LOL (I did own a steel Olmo with Super record in the far past though. 😉)

@jackmacdonald7636 Жыл бұрын

Eddy started training even before his first bona fide road bike, I realized this after watching one of his life documentraries, that excess activity MUST have built the best pro cyclist of all?

@chacmool2581 Жыл бұрын

7:50 Surprised to see the saddle so low.

@mildandbitter Жыл бұрын

In most sports you can argue who is best, in cycling you can only argue who is second best. (for me Hinault)

@jerre6882 5 жыл бұрын

Grand tours: 5 x Tour de France 4x Giro d'Italia 1x Vuelta Espagne (only rode it once) Classics: 7x Milan - San Remo 2x Tour of Flandres 3x Paris-Roubaix 2x Tour of Lombardia oh, and 3 x World Champion. A lot of wins in the same year. total of 525 wins in his career, 2nd is not even close by a few hundred.

@Jimmoets 4 жыл бұрын

5x Giro!

@LarsRR 4 жыл бұрын

And he won 5x Liège - Bastogne - Liège. He is the only cyclist to win all 5 monuments AND all 3 grand tours (and he won WC, too). Then, he is the only cyclist to have won all Monuments more than once and he has won the most grand tours, and the most monuments. Even if Lance wouldn’t have been tested positive, he was never greater than Eddy.

@WildPhotoShooter 3 жыл бұрын

5x Giro d'Italia 5x tour de France 1x Vuelta.

@jorisabc641 4 жыл бұрын

Onze EDDY MERCKX.

@johneskimo7561 3 жыл бұрын

2:35 Roeselare!

@rocky4976 3 жыл бұрын

I saw him in 1992 at Blois and was tempted to say something but had too much respect for his privacy. I get comments on my old orange Molteni SL tubing 1991. Rides like a dream. Merckx was the greatest among many tremendous athletes.

@MrJeepsters 5 ай бұрын

Je le trouvais plus fort sur les classiques ou aux championnats du monde. Il avait une grosse concurrence (Gimondi, De Vlaemink, Maertens...).

@FLYIN_DAGGERZ 4 жыл бұрын

Can you "run up the score" in cycling? Yeesh this guy was born to ride

@ShermanSitter 4 жыл бұрын

I thought the story was going to end with Merckx eating the little girl.

@BixbyConsequence 4 жыл бұрын

I was afraid for the cat.

@nickdigrispino2409 3 жыл бұрын

He detests the nickname “The Cannibal”

@ShermanSitter 3 жыл бұрын

@@nickdigrispino2409 I guess that is why he stuck to cats.

@robertoday5639 Жыл бұрын

Painstakingly efficient when he was setting his seat height

@vickyvonstein2331 2 жыл бұрын

He's a very humble old world man. Not like today's trash.

@Liofa73 2 жыл бұрын

Not that humble, massive doper. Most of the kids in the peloton today are super humble.

@vickyvonstein2331 2 жыл бұрын

@@Liofa73 Firstly, he's humble now, not back then. Secondly, doping back in the day was considered the norm. Thirdly, most kids today are afraid of their own shadow.

@cx34r 2 жыл бұрын

Every drug he could get his hands on.

@cx34r 2 жыл бұрын

@@robbiddlecombe8392 Its no secret that Merckx was a cheat, he failed drug test and was stripped of victories en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_Merckx#Doping

@cx34r 2 жыл бұрын

@@robbiddlecombe8392 I know that once a cheater always a cheater and I know that you are to dense to recognize a joke.

@kenbesford2656 2 жыл бұрын

Well said he failed at least 3 drug tests he would be banned for life now

@kenbesford2656 2 жыл бұрын

@@robbiddlecombe8392 because he failed at least 3 drug tests that's how haha

@Liofa73 2 жыл бұрын

@@robbiddlecombe8392 --- Are you Phil Liggett in disguise?

@razorback9926 3 жыл бұрын

He was suspended for doping several times in the 1970s, I don’t know why he gets a free pass today.

@K0ga64 3 жыл бұрын

And now they use Salbutamol.

@razorback9926 3 жыл бұрын

@@K0ga64 Merckx tested positive in 1969, 1973, and 1977. I don’t know why they haven’t stripped his TDF wins, he’s no cleaner than Armstrong.

@floriangrey 2 жыл бұрын

@@razorback9926 Merckx had a lot of enemies because he was the best and won everything. In 1969 other riders tricked him and he had to leave the Giro. Don't under estimate the jealousy of the other riders at that time.

@razorback9926 2 жыл бұрын

@@floriangrey What about 1973 and 1977? Do you have excuses for those too?

@jimbarron8688 2 жыл бұрын

He gets away with it because not enough people persist in calling him out. He was a doper plain and simple.

@simpinainteasy680 5 жыл бұрын

Anyone can use PEDs it still takes heart and talent to be consistently great in any sport.

@gaittr 2 жыл бұрын

First got to take advantage of steroids before they were popular or even tested for

@frankfriedrichheckmannqual4890 2 ай бұрын

Dwr beste Rennrad Fahrer aller Zeiten.Bravo

@decnijfkris3706 2 жыл бұрын

Honestly, I ask myself what he took. He lived here in Woluwé and his dad had a shop on the place. He rides 5 minutes faster Verbeeck said...

@kristofverschueren2069 2 жыл бұрын

5km per uur 🙂

@decnijfkris3706 2 жыл бұрын

@@kristofverschueren2069 what did you have to take in these years to ride 5 k faster?

@decnijfkris3706 2 жыл бұрын

@@kristofverschueren2069 Lance Armstrong says that it's impossible to win the Tour de France without taking doping. He can knw it I guess...

@garyfry3795 Жыл бұрын

Any positive tests other than for covid ?

@pit19931 4 жыл бұрын

He loved the sport and he rode everything single day races ,classics and Grand tours, stage races with passion and determination to win

@paulsolon6229 2 жыл бұрын

He also was best track racer 6 day, and hr record But he only did a few cross races. In a way wva and mvp are more complete racers, esp wva

@Gio_samudra Жыл бұрын

iam user eddy merckx sallanches 64 👍👍👍🇮🇩🇮🇩

@europeancycleevents1778 2 жыл бұрын

EM the greatest ever

@ramonskerrett6286 Жыл бұрын

Eddie first time seeing his picture was in 74 the year I got into cycling, in my hometown PUERTO RICO 🇵🇷 HE IS THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

@damienocallaghan2648 Жыл бұрын

5 TDF 5 GIRO 3 WC People will soon be comparing him with me😀😀😀

@lovestylefarms2702 Жыл бұрын

Michael Jordan is the Eddy Merckx of basketball.

@MorganBrown 5 жыл бұрын

So aero

@scottbrown5316 2 жыл бұрын

Didn't Mr. Merckx himself admit that he was doping...a lot. So how is he a hero any more than Lance Armstrong?

@michadebicki6534 2 жыл бұрын

Everyone was. They just destroyed Lance for sake of cycling image.

@jarikinnunen1718 4 жыл бұрын

Most of winners, winning is great moment. Winning to Merckx, was only job to do. When it too easy, is not really compete.

@Liofa73 2 жыл бұрын

Answer: The Amphetamines.

@paulsolon6229 2 жыл бұрын

Merckx looks like wva

@ikawpipa 2 жыл бұрын

what type of motor do they use at that time?

@phililpb 8 ай бұрын

Lance was the greatest ever

@thebikehut6603 5 жыл бұрын

Ernest Borgnine anyone?

@Mr71paul71 5 жыл бұрын

he would make mincemeat of these modern day riders on their covert electric bikes and their doping

@4lc4p0rn 5 жыл бұрын

he's a multiple times caught doper himself.

@dancar1660 5 жыл бұрын

@@4lc4p0rn Oh yes, for sure. He had the best doctors/scientists working for him!!

@rcdogmanduh4440 2 жыл бұрын

Matthew @ I agree he will always be the best!

@kenbesford2656 2 жыл бұрын

No he wouldnt, he doped and failed 3 drug tests

@craighermle7727 2 жыл бұрын

I wonder if there was the testing available in his day that is available now, if the results wouldn't be comparable to L.A. Remember a doper is immortalised on one of the TDF stages.

@guymorris6596 Жыл бұрын

Eddy Merckx is the greatest pro cyclist of all time and is still my lifelong pro cycling hero.

@tonyharvey9916 2 жыл бұрын

No drug passports in those days

@kacy750 5 жыл бұрын

wonder if he doped?

@4lc4p0rn 5 жыл бұрын

he tested positive 3 times.

@2321brendan 4 жыл бұрын

@@4lc4p0rn apparently when his son axel started racing with Lance. Eddy introduced Lance to Dr Ferrari.

@treygray2817 4 жыл бұрын

Of course he did

@kacy750 4 жыл бұрын

@@treygray2817 the best doper = the "greatest" to some. i must be missing something.

@stephenreeds3672 4 жыл бұрын

He did and yet he's idolised. Why?

@carlobrotto7132 Жыл бұрын

Wrong title: what made eddy merckx the cyclist with greatest palmares, which is something different from being the greatest ever. This title goes by far to Fausto Coppi who, out of sprinting, overwhelmes Merckx in everything : climb, descent , flat ,chrono, six-jours,track pursuit....an unbelievable grade of class Merckx never got to. Coppi is ahead at least of 1 ctg , at least...

@JB-rt4mx Жыл бұрын

Housecats 🐈🐈‍⬛🐈🐈‍⬛🐈

@s.powell335 Жыл бұрын

The pool of talent back then is nowhere near what is racing today. Yes, he could race and win and was a great cyclist but I do not believe he was the greatest of all time.

@bandeano3870 Жыл бұрын

He was the greatest of his time, there is no arguing with that. He did it at a time when bicycles were not that advanced and were made entirely of steel. He wore woolen clothes and leather shoes. No advanced diet with power bars and high energy drinks. So it's almost impossible to compare it to today's riders.

@markhill9275 2 жыл бұрын

Eddy is the GREATEST athlete the world has ever seen, across all sports, even greater than the amazing Jahangir Khan. No one has his record, he IS the greatest. Of course usaans will cry that theirs sre better, but thats just their usual crybaby stuff. Long live Le Cannibale!

@andrewturchan6065 2 жыл бұрын

Who says he is ??? He doped thru his carrier !!!! Landis asked "What is he doing on the podium of TDF ? I thought they didn't want dopers on podium" ....

@davidcoomber4050 Жыл бұрын

The only reason he is the greatest is Cavendish wasn’t allowed to smash his record

@isitrachelorj3953 Жыл бұрын

The greatest bicycle racer of all time is still winning today, Marianne Vos. Her longevity and domination across the various disciplines is more astounding than Merkxes domination in his day, especially considering how a team was organized and raced ONLY to get that team leader in a position to win (all for one and he for himself).

@backtoids 3 жыл бұрын

walang helmet jempoy amp

@jamegumm 5 жыл бұрын

Rumor was amphetamines

@4lc4p0rn 5 жыл бұрын

its not a rumor, he was caught doping multiple times.

@teodorocapulong5042 5 жыл бұрын

He admitted taking banned substances😅

@dirk2518 5 жыл бұрын

He was tested positive once under very debatable circumstances in the Giro. There was an non transparent contra expertise and a test that Merckx himself wanted was denied.

@4lc4p0rn 5 жыл бұрын

@@dirk2518 right... merckx tested positive for reactivan during the 1969 giro. then again at the 1973 giro di lombardia. in 1977 a doctor developed a test for pemoline, and caught merckx, maertens, and pollentier, among others. thats more than once.

@dirk2518 5 жыл бұрын

alexander christensen the second time he was given a medicine from a doctor who was part of the jury from his first positive test. The third was an amphetamine that just was added on the doping list. I really believe its not honest to diminish the performances of Merckx.