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Eddy Merckx

Gimondi and Merckx 1967

What is in your bag? (Felice Gimondi and Eddy Merckx 1967)

Felice Gimondi’s cycling career is remembered for his remarkable ability to compete at the highest level during the same era as the legendary Eddy Merckx, widely regarded as one of the greatest cyclists of all time. Despite Merckx’s dominance, Gimondi achieved numerous significant victories, including all three Grand Tours—Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España—making him one of the select few riders to win each of these prestigious races. However, Gimondi stands out even more for being one of the very few cyclists to have also claimed a World Championship title, elevating his status in the sport.

Fausto Coppi celebrating his Tour de France victory in 1949

Giro d’ Italia -Tour de France doubles

Fausto Coppi was the first rider to win the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in the same year (1949) In 2024, 26 years after Marco Pantani’s double victory, Tadej Pogacar managed to win both Giro d’Italia and Tour de France in the same year. The list of the riders Fausto Coppi (ITA) 1949 Fausto Coppi (ITA) 1952 Jacques Anquetil (FRA) 1964 Eddy Merckx (BEL) 1970 Eddy Merckx (BEL) 1972 Bernard Hinault (FRA) 1982 Bernard Hinault (FRA) 1985 Miguel Indurain (ESP) 1992 Miguel Indurain (ESP) 1993 Marco Pantani (ITA) 1998 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) 2024  

Eddy Merckx during Tour de France 1969

4 July 1969 Eddy Merckx takes the yellow jersey for the very first time

1969 was Eddy Merckx firts appearance at the Tour de France. He was already a Giro d’Italia winner (1968) and cemented his fame with severwl Monumment victories, especially at Milano-Sanremo. No wonder Merckx was considered also one of the favourites of Tour de France 1969. It took 6 stages (and a prologue) him to take over the lead. Stage 6 , on the 4th July of 1969, was a mountain stage inclunding Ballon d’Alsace. Merckx won the stage, while destroyed the dreams of some of the other favourites. It was a really strong peloton, including the Tour de France winners from precious years (Felice Gimondi 1965, Roger Pingeon 1967, Jan Janssen 1968). However, Merckx did… Read More »4 July 1969 Eddy Merckx takes the yellow jersey for the very first time

Belgian cycling superstar Eddy Merckx leading an attack while wearing the pink jersey during Giro d'Italia 1973

Cyclists led the Giro d’Italia general classification from start to finish

There are only four riders who led the general classification of Giro d’Italia thtough the entire race. Although the number of days they spent in leadeship differs due to the different stucture of the race though the years. Costante Girardengo 1919 (10 stages) During the first edition of Giro d’Italia after World War I Girardengo dominated the race on an incredible level. He won 7 of the 10 stages. Alfredo Binda 1927 (15 stages) Binda won the general classification two years earlier and was one of the main favourites in 1926. Unfortunately, he crashed on the very first stage and gave up the hope to win the race. So he rather helped his teammate Giovanni… Read More »Cyclists led the Giro d’Italia general classification from start to finish

Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx crossing the finish line at Omloop Het Volk on 25 March 1971

25 March 1971 Eddy Merckx wins Omloop Het Volk

You might wonder why an edition of Omloop Het  Nieuwsblad (or as it was called back in those day, Omloop Het Volk) was held so late in the spring classic calendar. The Omloop is one of the earliest races of the season, it always has been, because the creators of the competition wanted to have something earlier than the big rival Ronde van Vlaanderen. The reason of the late Omloop Het Nieuwsblad edition is simple: it was postponed because  three weeks earlier it was impossible to organize it due to snow. Neverthelessy this was Eddy Merckx’s first Omloop victory (the second came in 1973).  

Eddy Merckx first stage victory 1967 Blockhaus7

Eddy Merckx on Blockhaus (Giro d’Italia 1967)

Every road cycling legend, every great champion has that first epic moment that defines their career. The moment that takes everyone by surprise, yet deep down, everyone knows this cyclist was always capable to do it. In 1967 Eddy Merckx was already a two-time  Milano-Sanremo champion, after he repeated his success in previous year. He had also some other success during the sping classic season. Hence he was regarded rather a sprinter and not that kind of cyclist who would have been considered one of the favourite of a Giro d’Italia stage up to the Blockhaus.       PLEASE, SUPPORT PELOTONTALES!  If you like PelotonTales blog and want to help me a little to… Read More »Eddy Merckx on Blockhaus (Giro d’Italia 1967)

Puy de Dôme Tour de France

Iconic Tour de France places: Puy de Dôme

Tour de France 2023 presented a great gift for every road cycling history fans: after 35 years Puy de Dôme was reintroduced to the race. Although the 9th stage of Tour de France 2023 was only the 14th appearance of the ascent, it became one of the most iconic places in the history road cycling thanks mainly to the epic battle between Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor in 1964. Nestled in the heart of the Massif Central in central France, Puy de Dôme is a lava dome and one of the youngest volcanoes in the Chaîne des Puys region. The ascent was introduced to Tour de France in 1952 and had frequent appearance until 1988.… Read More »Iconic Tour de France places: Puy de Dôme

Eddy Merckx at the Tour de France 1970 with 8 stage victories

8 stage victories during a single Tour de France edition

There are only three riders who managed to win eight stages during a single Tour de France edition. One of them is Eddy Merckx, of course. He achieved it twice, in 1970 and 1974. The other two cyclists  are Charles Pelissier (1930) and Freddy Maertens (1976). Charles Pelissier (1930) Charles Pelissier, the youngest brother in the famous Pelissier family, who was compared to the movie star Rudolf Valentino in his book “1926” by the German scholar Hans-Ulrich Gumbrecht, dominated in the flat stages in Tour de France 1930. This was the first time national teams competed the race, and the final winner was also a Frenchman,  André Leducq. Pelisser not only won 8 stages, but… Read More »8 stage victories during a single Tour de France edition

Scandalous moment at Tour de France 1950, Gino Bartali is insulted by a spectator.

Four scandalous Tour de France editions

In its more than 120-year-long history Tour de France, the most famous road cycling race of the world witnessed good time and bad time either. It had plenty of glourious moments, but also some shameful ones. Here are the four (arguably) most scandalous editions in the history of Tour de France . 1904 – an almost untimely end of a great story The first Tour de France was a great success, not only financially, but participating in the race brought fame and prestige to the riders either. Unfortunately, when sport events have such a high stake, cheating becomes pivotal part of the happenings. Actually, at the second edition of the race, riders and fans went… Read More »Four scandalous Tour de France editions

Eddy Merckx winning the Vuelta a Espana in 1973

Giro d’Italia -Vuelta a Espana double winners

Vuelta a Espana was a sping race for decades, the first autumn edition was held in 1995, and its original schedules were usually very close to Giro d’Italia. Little wonder, that the first Giro-Vuelta happened only in 1973, and the first rider to achieve it was Eddy Merkcx. (Just for the record: Fausto Coppi managed the first Giro-Tour double in 1949, and Jacques Anquetil the first Vuelta-Tour double in 1963) Also, Vuelta a Espana seemed to be like an ugly stepsibling in comparison with the other two grand tours. Some of the greatest legends of this sport, like Gino Bartali,never competed the race. (The first Vuelta a Espana was held in 1935, thus technically it… Read More »Giro d’Italia -Vuelta a Espana double winners