And then suddenly...
The 31th of May in 1967, the day of the 12th stage of Giro d'Italia witnessed cycling history. This was not only the day, when the race visited the famous Blockhaus for the very first time. But it happened to be also the moment when
Eddy Merckx celebrated his first Giro d'Italia stage victory.
Blockhaus, a part of the The Maiella (or Majella) is a massif in Central Apennines, in Abruzzo, central Italy. The peak has earned its German name due the stone fortness atop, used by an Autrian commander and his squad of riflemen to fight banditry in the 19th century.
The 206 km long 12th stage in 1967 included several mountains before the peloton started to climb Blockhaus: Macerone, Rionero Sannitico and Roccaraso. José Pérez-Francés was wearing the maglia rosa that day (he took the famous pink jersey in the 8th stage). Most of the race favourites were one and a half minute behind him in the general classification, except Jacques Anquetil.
On the road up to the top of Blockhaus, Vico Taccone attacked first. But with 2 km to go it looked like the victory will be decided between Silvano Schiavon and Italo Zilioli.
Then came the 22-year old Belgian rookie, Eddy Merckx. Other riders most likely didn't take him seriously. But with just one kilometer to go he showed his talent and determination, roode aways from the favourits. At the end, he arrived in the finish 10"ahead of Zilioli.
It was a defining moment that marked the beginning of a legendary cycling career.