According to Belgian media, cycling luminary Eddy Merckx suffered a fractured hip stemming from a bike crash.
The 79-year-old winner of 11 Grand Tours was cycling with a group when the incident happened near Hombeek, Mechelen.
“It was a stupid accident,” the family of five-time Tour winner Eddy Merckx told Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad. “There were no other road users involved, Eddy just skidded away. Luckily he wasn’t alone, because Eddy felt a sharp pain. He knew right away what time it was, and that suspicion was also confirmed in the hospital: he broke his hip. Eddy now has to undergo surgery.”
According to Het Nieuwsblad, the operation will take place in Herentals, where Remco Evenepoel also underwent surgery last week after a training crash.
Sources close to the Merckx family confirmed that after the crash the 79-year-old was immediately taken to a nearby hospital.
“Eddy is stable and in good hands,” a family spokesperson said. “He’s already showing his characteristic determination to overcome this challenge, just as he did throughout his racing career.”
Merckx retired in 1978, having also won three World Road Championships. He was the first rider to claim cycling’s Triple Crown by winning the world title, Tour de France and Giro d’Italia in the same year, in 1974.
Only two men have emulated the feat, Ireland’s Stephen Roche in 1987 and Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar earlier this year.
Merckx also shared the record for Tour de France stage wins with Mark Cavendish before the now-retired Briton went clear with his 35th victory in July.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
