Eddy Merckx

Why an honorary doctorate? 

On 25 May 2011, Rector Paul De Knop presented Merckx with an honorary doctorate from VUB because of his inspiring personality that combined excellence in cycling with social commitment.

Prize without a contest

Former rector Paul De Knop awarded an honorary doctorate of VUB to - in his own words - five inspiring personalities who in their field link excellence to social commitment. Eddy Merckx, number one Belgian sportsman of the twentieth century, was one of them. Because he has a winner's mentality that was based on, and flourished through, belief in himself. Because his perseverance showed the world that where there is a wheel/will, there is a way. Because - both through his strength and his warm personality - he places (cycling) sport in a democratic light and makes passion and experience accessible to every layer of the population.

Cycling is not about being the fastest. Or about being the first to touch the finish line more times than you can count. Merckx's quote is about the freedom of living a passion. They are words about seeing choices, and then actually choosing. About taking a deep breath, sometimes reaching the depths but always rising again. The effort need not be boundless, as long as your self-confidence is. The result is outdone by the commitment; the commitment bows to the audacity of the effort.  For feeling, tout court.

About his career

World record holder n°1

Eddy Merckx broke the world time record and kept it for 12 years.

AKA "The Cannibal"

His incessant hunger for victories earned him the nickname "The Cannibal".

Top champion

He cycled to about 525 victories in his career. National and international journalists call him the cycling god.

The Grand Prize: Giro d’Italia: 5 Times, Tour de France: 5 Times, Vuelta a Espana: 1 Time, Classics: virtually all

Numerous nicknames: De Zwarte Van Tervuren, De Tamburlaine Van De Pedalen, De Beul Van De Fiets, De Beethoven Van De Ronde

Life on wheels

17 June 1945. In the Merckx family, the first child of three, Eddy, is born. The son soon stands out because of his cheekiness, mischievousness and all-round sporty character. He leaves school before graduating, but he has found his outlet in sports.

Eddy is 16 years old and is more and more into cycling. His great idols are Stan Ockers and Jacques Anquetil. It is ex-professional cyclist Félicien Vervaecke who awakens the young Merckx’s enthusiasm. Until '64, Vervaecke remains his regular companion, caretaker, and mechanic.

In 1961 Eddy wins his very first (fairground) race; three years later, he becomes world champion of the fans in Sallanches, France. He makes his professional debut in '65 at the Flèche Wallonne and barely a year later crosses the finish line first at Milan-San Remo. He does it again six more times. That record still stands in Merckx's name in 2020.

1967. A year to remember for Eddy. He becomes road cycling world champion for the first time in Heerlen and puts a wedding ring on his wife's finger. They later crown their marriage with daughter Sabrina and son Axel.

In 1968, Merckx becomes the first Belgian to win the Tour of Italy (Giro). But when he participates the following year, he is caught doping, although he continues to claim to this day that the test was tampered with. Twenty hours after his positive check, the University of Milan subjects him to another examination. Result: nothing to be found. Yet the counter-appraisal fails to materialise.

Eddy Merckx wins the Tour de France for the first time in '69. He himself calls it his greatest victory. On his return home, he is received as a hero; the last Belgian - Sylvère Maes - to win the Tour did so thirty years earlier. Also in '69, during a dernycriterium in Blois (France), Merckx hits the ground hard; from then on, cycling becomes more difficult.

In 1975, "De Kannibaal" wins the Tour of Flanders for the second and last time. Frans Verbeeck, who in spite of frantic efforts had to give the thumbs down for him, says in an interview afterwards: "He rides five per hour too fast for us. I don’t know what that is. He still rides as fast as last year."

On 19 March 1978 Eddy Merckx's career ends after the Omloop van het Waasland. But even after his career, Merckx continues to be in the limelight in many areas. In 1980, he founds the bicycle business Eddy Merckx and regularly acts as a commentator at cycling races.

In the years that follow, he remains active as a national coach of the Royal Belgian Cycling Federation, becomes a member (and later vice-chairman) of the Board of Directors of the Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee (BOIC). In 1996 King Albert II elevates him to the rank of baron and in 2005 he is nominated - along with 110 others - as a Great Belgian.

Besides being a sportsman, Merckx is also a people person. In 2008, he launches the new campaign of the Damien Foundation as ambassador. And where there is fame, there are writers. More than 15 books have been published about the man who taught his people what cycling is all about.

In 2019, the Tour de France starts in Brussels and stays there for two days, as a tribute to Merckx's 50th anniversary and five Tour victories.

In addition to numerous recognitions and awards, Eddy Merckx has been named Sportsman of the Year in Belgium six times and earned the World Sportsman of the Year trophy three times.