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Sport	Cycling
Name	Eddy Merckx
Subtitle	Monsieur Tour de France
Number	07-05
Info	With his four wins in the Tour de France between 1969 and 1972, then again in 1974, Eddy Merckx had equaled the record set by Jacques Anquetil. In 1975, the Belgian was all set to beat this record. However, the determination of Thévenet, together with the stupidity of a spectator who struck Merckx in the small of the back while he was cycling uphill, and a fall just before the start of the 17th stage between Valloire and Morzine, all these conspired against him. An unfortunate loss of strength during the Pra-Loup climb, and then again at Isoard, meant that Merckx was forced to abandon the race to Thévenet, the eventual winner. In 1969, Roger Pingeon had been able to cling on during the Alpine sections, but Merckx had showed his superiority in the Pyrenees. In 1970, Joop Zoetemelk was unable to prevent Merckx winning again. Probably the 1971 Tour de France was the most exciting, with a fine duel between Merckx and Luis Ocaña which unleashed passions on both sides and which will not be forgotten for a long time. During the Orsières-Merlette stage, the Spaniard was 8:42 ahead of his adversary. Everyone believed that Ocaña was safely out of reach, with the exception of Merckx who went straight into the attack the following day and once again took over the yellow jersey with 2:0 in hand. Merckx nibbled away a few more seconds in the Pyrenees, and put on a spurt in the Col de Mente. Ocaña clung on but during the descent a severe thunderstorm caused him to fall and he was seriously hurt. After this he retired from the race. Merckx again was the winner. In 1973, Merckx rode in the Giro and the Vuelta races rather than the Tour de France, but he competed and won in 1974, his fifth victory.
Photo Info	EDDY MERCKX TOUR DE FRANCE Co-holder with Charles Pélissier (1930) and Freddy Maertens (1976) of the record number of stage victories during one Tour: 8 in 1970. Merckx leads with 34 stage victories overall in the Tour de France, over Andre Leducq (25 wins between 1927 and 1938), Andre Darrigade (22), Faber and Frantz (20)He has worn the yellow jersey on 96 days, far ahead of Anquetil (49), Magne (38), Frantz (37), Leducq (35) Bottecchia and Bobet (39)In 1969 Eddy Merckx won the Tour de France, the green jersey (on points), the combined (the white jersey), the mountain grand prix, and the highest number of points overall Mont-Revard, 1972: Eddy Merckx leads Cyrille Guimard, but will be beaten in the sprint
Copyright	© 1977, Editions Rencontre S.A., Lausanne Photo Presse-Sports-Explorer Printed in Japan 03 005 07-05