Published June 22, 2016 07:58PM
M is for Merckx: The Cannibal
Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx (yellow jersey) answers journalist' questions after winning the Tour de France for the fifth time at the Velodrome de Vincennes in Paris after the 22th and last stage of the 61th edition of the Tour de France cycling race between Orleans and Paris La Cipale on July 21, 1974. During his career Merckx won 524 races, captured 3 World Road champion titles (1967, 71, 74), won five times the Tour de France (1969, 70, 71, 72, 74) and the Tour d'Italie (1968, 70, 72, 73, 74). (Photo by AFP) (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)
June 18, 2016 – For the letter M in our A-to-Z countdown to the 2016 Tour de France (#TDF2016) we’ve chosen a man who couldn’t be ignored in any A-to-Z of the Tour: Eddy MERCKX.
#PelotonShorts by John Wilcockson/Photo by Yuzuru Sunada
This is a classic image of the Cannibal wearing the Tour’s yellow jersey, riding alone in the mountains.
He’s using the No. 1 bib for Italian sponsor Molteni, while also on the jersey are the maillot jaune sponsor Miko ice cream, the logo of jersey manufacturer Le Coq Sportif and the HD insignia of Tour founder Henri Desgrange.
The fans always gave Merckx the greatest respect—even the dog in this shot is on its best behavior!
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