Eddy Merckx marks his 80th birthday with a peaceful day of solitude, following five days of public festivities.
On Eddy Merckx's 80th birthday, he expressed his dream team in the modern peloton during an interview with La Dernière Heure. The cycling legend ambitious plans include lining up with UAE Team Emirates-XRG, a squad he believes resonates with the Molteni team that propelled his career[1]. Unsurprisingly, this team contains stars like Tadej Pogačar, one of the team's star riders.
The legendary biker, known as 'The Cannibal,' spent the day peacefully after five days of lavish celebrations that involved royal audience, interviews, book launches, and countless articles reminiscing his life and achievements. Family gatherings, osteopath visits, and work or school commitments took over his birthday on Tuesday[2].
Merckx, still under antibiotics after his winter hip replacement, abstained from champagne at a book presentation. Despite his age, he maintained his signature modesty and pragmatism while celebrating his 80th.[2] Remarkably, Merckx, even at this age, hasn't lost the competitive edge and is recovering from a December 2024 fall that fractured his hip[3]. His dream for the future? Sharing the saddle with his fellow biking enthusiasts again[3].
The Belgian television featured an interview with Merckx on Monday, as well as visits to Het Nieuwsblad and Het Laatste Nieuws[2]. Reiterating his stardom, Merckx astonished about the continued interest in his life.[4] To illustrate, La Dernière Heure gave him 30 questions from 30 different sports stars[4]. One question aimed for Merckx to describe himself in a single word, leaving him briefly lost for words, until he smiled and simply stated, "A winner"[4].
Reflecting on his legacy, Merckx named Fausto Coppi and Bernard Hinault as his companions on the greatest podium of all time[5]. These cycling icons reigned over their eras in every kind of race, mirroring Merckx's dominance in one of the greatest epochs of cycling[5]. In the end, Merckx desired to be remembered as an honest, loyal, and hardworking rider who always gave his best to win[5].
Eddy Merckx, during his interview with La Dernière Heure, expressed his dream of lining up with UAE Team Emirates-XRG for road cycling, a team that he believes resonates with his Molteni team that propelled his career. As a testament to his enduring love for sports, Merckx was asked to describe himself in a single word by La Dernière Heure, and he simply stated, "A winner."
