Velotology Educational Series

Hello, 

Today, I present to you another article from Velotology’s educational series. This time the focus is on the legendary cyclist Eddy Merckx. 

Below you will find 10 curious facts about him.

Let’s go.

An Espresso Machine Maker Sponsored Eddy Merckx During The First Tour De France Win

At the beginning of his pro cycling career, Eddy Merckx was a member of the FAEMA team. 

FAEMA (Italian acronym: Fabbrica Apparecchiature Elettromeccaniche e Affini) is a popular Italian producer of espresso machines founded in 1945 by Carlo Ernesto Valente in Milan. 

The company sponsored Eddy Merckx between 1968 and 1970. 

Merckx won his first Tour De France in 1969 with an unprecedentedly dominant performance.

Merckx’s bike at the time was a steel Faemino model made by Faliero Masi, the founder of Masi bicycles.

Merckx’s Max Power Output Was Insane – 455 Watts Per Hour

In 1975, an experiment in which Merckx participated rattled the cycling world. During an ergometer test performed in Sporthochule (the German Sport University in Cologne), Merckx produced 0.6 horsepower or 455 Watts for an entire hour.

The test was documented in Edmund R. Burke’s book High-Tech Cycling, ISBN 0-87322-535-X.

To lower the body heat, the test had to be performed with a massive cooling fan. 

To put things in perspective, consider this:

• A total beginner will hit 75-100 Watts on a stationary bike.

• An average recreational cyclist will produce about 150-200 Watts.

• A more advanced cyclist could reach 300 Watts.

• Anyone producing over 300 Watts is considered elite.

455 Watts is simply otherworldly. 

Eddy Merckx Smoked and Advertised Cigarettes

Given that Merckx broke many cycling records and has more pro wins (500+) than anyone else out there, some people may be shocked to learn that he was a smoker. 

But what may shock you even more is that Merckx advertised cigarettes. There are adverts of him for R6 cigarettes (a German brand going back 103 years ago).

Truth be told, brahs, cyclists smoked even before Mercxk’s glory days. It was believed that smoking opens your breadthways and increases cycling performance. 

A Young Girl Nicknamed Merckx “The Cannibal”

Many people know that Merckx was known as the “The Cannibal” because of his ferocious style and desire to win in every possible race, but few are familiar with who gave him the nickname. 

It was the daughter of a Merckx teammate whose name is a mystery (if you know it, please write it in the comments, and I will immediately include it in the post.)

When the dad complained to his daughter that Merckx wouldn’t let anyone win, not even his teammates, she instinctively concluded that the guy was a metaphorical cannibal as he was eating the wins of his own cycling buddies

The rest is history. By the way, the nickname sounds even cooler in French –  Le Cannibale.

A Punch From an Angry Fan Stopped Merckx From Winning The Tour De France Six Times

The information below will feel like a scene extracted from a movie, but it’s as real as the Sun. 

In 1975, Merckx was on his way to winning his 6th Tour De France title and breaking his personal record and that of Jacques Anquetil. 

But a fan had other plans and decided to write history. At stage 14, the fan punched Merckx in the kidney. The result is a broken cheekbone and a loss to Bernard Thévenet. Despite the fall and the injury, Merckx took the second place.

Merckx Left His First Team Because His Colleagues Were Very Mean To Him

Merckx’s first team was the Belgian club Solo–Superia. Sadly, Merckx wasn’t treated very well there and left in a year. The other members used to call him weird names and mocked him. 

His main rival, Rik Van Looy, was the most aggressive in that behavior. 

This isn’t surprising in sports, especially the male segment. When you get a bunch of highly motivated young and hungry “male lions” together, it would be almost weird to see no rivalry between them. 

In 1966, Merxkx left Solo–Superia for Peugeot–BP–Michelin. 

Fernand Wambst, Merckx’s Pacer, Died During A Derny Race 

In 1969, Merckx and his pacer Fernand Wambst crashed during a derny race*. Wambst died instantly while Merckx suffered a concussion, cracked vertebrae, and twisted his pelvis – injuries that would make climbing for him exceptionally painful in the future. 

*A derny race is an event during which each competitor has another team member riding a derny (motorized bicycle). The rider of the derny is called a pacer and rides in an upright position. 

The job of the pacer is to reduce the wind resistance that the rider behind him has to fight. The outcome is a much higher average speed. 

Merckx Got Caught Doping Three Times 

Many people new to cycling might be surprised that even back in Merckx’s time cyclists weren’t always “clean”. Well, it’s professional sports, guys – what are you expecting?

Merckx himself was caught three times as listed below:

1. In 1969, Merckx tested positive for Reactivan during the 1969 Giro d’Italia. Somewhat ironically, Reactivan is a stimulant developed by the American pharmaceutical company Merck. (lol, the irony).

2. In 1973, Merckx was caught with traces of a prohibited substance in his system during the Giro di Lombardia Classic. He was banned from the race, and Felice Gimondi took the first-place award.

3. In 1977, Merckx tested positive for Pemoline (a stimulant similar to amphetamines). Freddy Maertens and Michel Pollentier from Belgium were also caught using the drug.

Keep in mind that at the time, the “cycling drugs” weren’t nearly as advanced as they are today. EPO and blood doping weren’t available. As in Merckx’s cases, doping was limited to stimulants. 

Merckx’s Hour World Record Bike Is A” Hostage” At a Metro Station In Brussels

A metro station in Brussels part of line 5 carries the name Eddy Merckx in honor of the great cyclist. The passengers can see the bike with which Merckx set the Hour World Record on October 25, 1972, in Mexico City.

Merckx covered 49.431km in one hour on a velodrome with his magic orange bike. His average speed was, obviously, 49.431km/h or 13.729 m/s.

Merckx Was Against “Upgraditis”

One of the most famous quotes from Merckx goes like this: 

Don’t buy upgrades, ride up grades.

The idea is obvious – far too many people are concerned with owning the best possible bike and accessories for it (GPS, performance monitors…etc.) when in reality, all you need to get better is to practice. 

Merckx and his contemporaries didn’t have carbon frames, disc brakes, aero helmets, and a dozen other gadgets that modern cyclists enjoy. Yet they will outperform every single recreational cyclist out there and many of the modern pros. 

The difference will be so big that some riders would almost be obligated to retire due to shame (ok, I am joking..slightly.)

The point, as we have said many times here at Velotology, is to just go out and enjoy the freedom that only a bicycle can give you. Leave chair experts to worry about “the ultimate cycling app”.