Eddy Merckx

Eddy Merckx is a Belgian former professional road cyclist whose record across Grand Tours, one-day races, and stage races made him one of the sport’s most accomplished riders.

1974 Giro d’Italia: The 1974 edition of the Giro d’Italia, won by Eddy Merckx. This victory completed Merckx’s second Giro–Tour double.
Road cycling: A form of bicycle racing held on paved public roads. Merckx’s career spanned stage races, one-day races, and time trials within this sport.
Felice Gimondi: An Italian road cyclist who won the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España. Gimondi was Merckx’s most persistent Grand Tour rival during the late 1960s and 1970s.
UCI Road World Rankings: The Union Cycliste Internationale’s system for ranking professional road cyclists by results. Merckx’s sustained results made him a benchmark for season-long road-racing success.
1974 Tour de France: The 1974 edition of the Tour de France, won by Eddy Merckx. Merckx’s fifth Tour win came after a close duel with Raymond Poulidor.
Time trial: A race in which cyclists start separately and compete against the clock. His exceptional time-trialling helped him gain time over rivals in stage races.
Raymond Poulidor: A French road cyclist remembered for repeated high finishes in the Tour de France without winning it. His close challenge to Merckx in 1974 made their Tour duel a defining contest.
Cycling Hall of Fame: An institution honoring significant figures in the history of competitive cycling. Merckx’s career is a central reference point in accounts of cycling’s greatest riders.
1969 Tour de France: The 1969 edition of the Tour de France, won by Eddy Merckx. His first Tour victory announced an unusually dominant stage-racing career.
Breakaway: A group or solo rider that separates from the main peloton during a race. Merckx often attacked far from the finish rather than waiting for a sprint.

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