Cycling Icon Eddy Merckx, 79, Sustains Hip Fracture in Bicycle Fall

Eddy Merckx recently congratulated fellow Belgian Remco Evenepoel at an Anderlecht game in August, following Evenepoel’s double triumph at the Paris Olympics. According to Belgian media reports, cycling legend Eddy Merckx has sustained a fractured hip after falling from his bicycle. The 79-year-old, an 11-time Grand Tour winner, was cycling alongside a group when the incident took place near Hombeek, Mechelen. Claudine, his wife, informed reporters that it was “a stupid accident” and that “no other road user involved” in the incident. She stated, “Eddy just skidded away.” She added, “He immediately knew he had [done] something. He felt a lot of pain.” Merckx is scheduled to undergo surgery at the same hospital in Herentals where his Belgian compatriot Remco Evenepoel had surgery last week, after the double Olympic champion sustained multiple bone fractures in a training crash. Merckx concluded his professional career in 1978, having also secured three World Road Championships. In 1974, he became the inaugural rider to achieve cycling’s Triple Crown, winning the world title, the Tour de France, and the Giro d’Italia within the same year. Only two other individuals have replicated this accomplishment: Ireland’s Stephen Roche in 1987 and Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar earlier this year. Merckx previously held a shared record for Tour de France stage victories with Mark Cavendish, before the now-retired Briton surpassed him with his 35th victory in July.