Cycling legend and five-time winner of the Tour de France, Eddy Merckx underwent emergency surgery for an intestinal obstruction according to the Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws. The intervention took place at the end of March after the “Cannibal” was transported by his wife to hospital near Brussels. More than a meter of intestine was reportedly removed.
Merckx told the Flemish newspaper that he had lost a lot of weight but that his life was never in danger. The operation went well and the former Belgian runner is resting at home. He will celebrate his 79th birthday on June 17. Since 2023, the Vélo d’or trophy awarded to the best female rider and the best Classics rider has been named after her.
The “Cannibal” notably has seven victories over Milan-San Remo, five over Liège-Bastogne-Liège and three over Paris-Roubaix. He is part of the very exclusive club of riders (three, with his compatriots Rik Van Looy and Roger De Vlaeminck) to have won the five Monuments (with the Tour of Flanders and the Tour of Lombardy).
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