Eddy Merckx Fractures Hip in Bike Fall

Eddy Merckx, 79, fractured his hip after falling from his bike during a ride near Hombeek, Mechelen. The Belgian icon, renowned for his remarkable career, was cycling with a group when the incident occurred. His wife, Claudine described the accident as “stupid,” explaining that no other road users were involved. According to her, Merckx simply skidded and immediately felt intense pain, realizing something was wrong.

Doctors will perform surgery on Merckx at the hospital in Herentals, the same facility where Belgian cyclist Remco Evenepoel had his operation last week after breaking several bones in a crash during training. Merckx’s fall represents a significant setback for the cycling great, who retired from the sport in 1978. Merckx is known as one of the most successful cyclists in history.

He won 11 Grand Tours including five Tour de France titles and three World Road Championships. He made history in 1974 by becoming the first rider to win the prestigious Triple Crown, claiming the World Championship, the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia in the same year. Only two cyclists have matched this extraordinary achievement: Ireland’s Stephen Roche in 1987 and Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar in 2024.

Eddy Merckx also shares the record for the most Tour de France stage wins with Mark Cavendish until Cavendish surpassed him with his 35th stage win in 2023. Despite his retirement over four decades ago, Merckx remains a revered figure in the sport. His fans and the cycling community hope for a swift recovery after this unfortunate accident.