Merckx ride

[arklat]

I rode in a "Special Attraction" ride with him in '86, at the world's in Colorado springs, Colorado, USA. He was fit enough to give us "Fits"! I was a competitive cyclist, so i worked my way up to his wheel, and had to fight everyone else trying to get me off! It was crazy, but nobody crashed. A very nice man. Also, my standard of what a complete racer should aspire to be! The BEST EVER!! 

[firepower14]

HEY if u mean by medicine dope then yeah that does effect you later in life tommy simson was crazy enough to overdose himself of it

[tinian33]

Wow...fantastic footage you got there with Eddy. Merckx was indeed the king of the road at one time, but judging by his body composition, it appears that he's the now king of the biggie size quarter pounder with cheese meal....crikey!

[hellolo0]

Since that video he lost a lot of weight... he had a health problem and he had a surgery for that... now he's fit ans despite his 63 years he can still ride 200 km with a very good average speed...

[tinian33]

Interesting.....I often wondered if his weight issues were related to a medical condition, or the side effects of taking medications. His body composition, including his face, had a bloated appearance, and not that of weight gain associated with aging, or "creeping" obesity. People who take Prednisone often have that same look.

[Torro62]

Hallo, yes Eddy was the greathest off all! i love the man! anth still riding his bike anth is verry fast ,last summer i had the luck riding with him anth the mercks ''vriends'' (scheldeprijs voor wielertoeristen) he is still the boss!! respect

[fenlandfolly]

First time I have seen this, thank you for putting this up. Why does always the debate degenerate into Merckx V Amstrong. They were in two entirely different eras - two entirely different personalities. Why not Merckx V Anquetil ? Of course Eddy won more than Armstrong overall - if he had done an Armstrong and concentrated on the one race that brings in the $ now - how many would he have won - 8, 9 or 10 ? (injuries aside).

[phunkerbooster007]

he was the king

[agustinzurita]

5 tour de france 5 giro de italia 2 vuelta a españa. he was winning overall, mountain, sprint, time trial... money who needs money...

[stinomagnifico]

there isn't another rider that even comes close to what merckx achieved during his career. he would've won even more if it weren't for a bad back injury that hampered him since the beginning of his career. armstrong only focused on the tour and as a person, he's a jerk, whereas merckx is a lovable, modest guy.

[btinder711]

You know Armstrong personally? You don't. So don' judge people and call them jerks because of what you see on TV or hear in tabloids.

[stinomagnifico]

i actually "met" him in the tour de france of 2001 in antwerp. every other rider was accessible for the fans for an autograph or a picture, but not "king" lance. he had to be surrounded by bodyguards...

[laviolette2]

Very nice video. Merckx is simply the best. There have been many great Tour winners like Armstrong or Indurain but Merckx won all big European Tours. He won the giro as often as the Tour de France. (five times)

[sjl62]

thanks for the pictures! my dad (about eddy's age) went to that ride and recalls what an honor it was to be dropped by the cannibal.

[deimoshomestead]

eddy was great but theres no other like lance armstrong

[audible67]

Lance has NOTHING on Eddy. Don't be a fool.

[deimoshomestead]

im not a fool at all... lance armstrong was more than a cyclist, nobody made what he made, he won 6 tours after cancer (2 years lost in his life), much more than a genius, a life phylosophy, there wont be anyone like him ever.

[audible67]

Last I checked it was 7 tours. ...but what else? Eddy won EVERYTHING. Cancer was the best thing to happen to Lance's by his own admission. Genius? Philosopher? please... Milquetoast!

[Coolssoe]

Merckx won the classics. Like Milan - San Remo an incredible 7 times. He won more stages in the Tour de France. He won more yellow jerseys. He won over 500 races in his life. He almost won a third of the races he started in. You're telling Armstrong lost 2 potential victories in the Tour de France because of his cancer. Merckx didn't even compete in the Tour de France a couple of years because there were other races to be won. Cycling isn't only about the Tour de France.

[deimoshomestead]

armstrong could win all the things you said if somebody would pay him for that

[Coolssoe]

Ridiculous. Armstrong rode the Ronde van Vlaanderen and was nowhere. He couldn't follow the leaders on the 'Muur van Geraardsbergen'. Great champions, like Merckx didn't participate for the money but for the prestige. That's what make the difference between champions and legends.

[agustinzurita]

it,s great what he did but i see u dont know much about cycling. nowadays you have a team that takes you to the final 3 miles and attack, but in those years this people were attacking

from the bigginig of the stage without help of livingston or heras.

[kvmusic]

deimoshomestead , you don't know what you are talking about.

[nhojwalsh]

Learn to spell before you talk...phylosophy...DUNCE

[deimoshomestead]

english is not my language... DUNCE

[COSMOWEL]

good video

[Hamirubi]

I really loved the pictures! And as a Belgian, I am proud on the status of Eddy Merckx.

[flojogrande]

Well, all I can say is I envy you. Merckx is the greatest cyclist that ever was and ever will be. There is too much technology invovled with sports these days. Imagine, during his days the cyclist were going over the same category 1 and 2 climbs of the Tour, Giro and Vuelta on bikes that weighed almost 3-4 times as much as they weigh today. They were still going over those mountains. That meant they had to be in much better shape.

[musidiablo]

Actually in some cases the old bikes weighed quite close to what they weigh today. Remember less gears, shallow rims etc. They were tough riders. But I am sure that the riders of today are trained to a higher pinnacle. Even Eddy does not like to compare sporting performances from different eras. Withot Eddy would have won in whichever era he may have raced in.