When Axel Merckx reflects on his father Eddy Merckx’s health these days, there’s a quiet pride in his voice — not just for the legendary cyclist’s enduring legacy, but for the way the Merckx name continues to resonate in modern cycling through riders like Lotte Kopecky. In a rare, candid interview with Belgian outlet HBVL, the former pro and son of cycling’s greatest icon opened up about his father’s ongoing health journey and offered glowing praise for Kopecky, the Belgian phenom whose relentless ascent has drawn inevitable comparisons to the Merckx era.
Eddy Merckx, now 78, has faced health challenges in recent years, including a bout of pneumonia in 2022 that required hospitalization and ongoing concerns about his mobility and stamina. While Axel Merckx did not disclose specific medical details out of respect for his father’s privacy, he confirmed that Eddy remains mentally sharp, engaged with the sport, and deeply proud of how Belgian cycling has evolved. “He watches every race he can,” Axel said. “Even if he can’t be on the roadside anymore, he’s there in spirit — asking about tactics, about young riders, about how the peloton has changed.”
The Merckx name still carries immense weight in cycling circles, and Axel acknowledged that legacy cuts both ways. “There’s pressure, sure,” he admitted. “But Dad never wanted us to live in his shadow. He wanted us to love the sport, to race with integrity, to enjoy the struggle. That’s what he taught me.”
It’s in that spirit that Axel Merckx spoke with unreserved admiration for Lotte Kopecky, the 28-year-old Belgian road and track specialist who has become one of the most dominant forces in women’s cycling. Kopecky, a multiple-time world and European champion, recently added another feather to her cap by winning the 2024 UCI Gravel World Championships — a testament to her versatility and relentless work ethic.
“If she keeps going like this,” Axel Merckx said, leaning into the quote that made headlines, “she won’t just match what my father did — she’ll redefine what’s possible.”
That statement carries weight not just because of who said it, but because of what it reflects: a shifting landscape in cycling where the Merckx standard is no longer solely a benchmark for men’s achievements. Kopecky’s palmares already rivals some of the greatest in the sport’s history. She has won the UCI Road World Championships in both the road race (2021, 2023) and time trial (2022, 2023), making her one of only a handful of riders to win world titles in multiple disciplines in the same year. She’s also a six-time European champion and a medalist at the Olympic Games.
Her 2024 season has been particularly remarkable. After overcoming a early-season crash that left her with a fractured rib, Kopecky returned to win stages at the Vuelta a España Femenina and dominate at the Gravel Worlds in Halle, Belgium — a race held on familiar roads that only amplified the emotional resonance of her victory. Competing in front of a home crowd, she attacked with characteristic aggression on the final lap and soloed to victory, her arms raised in a gesture that echoed countless Merckx triumphs from decades past.
What sets Kopecky apart, Axel Merckx noted, isn’t just her palmares but her mindset. “She races like she’s got something to prove — not to others, but to herself. That’s the Merckx mentality: never satisfied, always pushing the limit.” He contrasted that with riders who might rest on past laurels, emphasizing that Kopecky’s hunger remains undiminished even after achieving what most cyclists only dream of.
Of course, direct comparisons between eras are fraught with complications. Eddy Merckx competed in a time when calendars were less congested, technology far simpler, and the sport less globalized. He won 525 professional races, including five Tour de France titles, five Giro d’Italia wins, and three World Championships — numbers that may never be matched. But Axel was careful to frame his comments not as a claim of equivalence, but as recognition of excellence in its own right.
“You can’t compare eras like-for-like,” he said. “The bikes, the roads, the science — it’s all different. But the will to win? That’s timeless. And Lotte has it in spades.”
Kopecky herself has often cited Eddy Merckx as an inspiration, though she’s quick to point out that her idols also include riders like Jeannie Longo and Marianne Vos. In a 2023 interview with Cycling Weekly, she said, “Eddy showed what’s possible with determination. But I want to be Lotte Kopecky — not the next Eddy Merckx.”
That balance — honoring the past while forging an individual path — is something Axel Merckx sees as essential. “Legacy isn’t about repetition,” he explained. “It’s about inspiration. If Lotte keeps pushing boundaries, if she keeps inspiring young girls to acquire on a bike and race, then she’s doing exactly what sport should do.”
Looking ahead, Kopecky’s schedule remains packed. She is set to lead Belgium’s team at the 2024 UCI Road World Championships in Zurich this September, where she will defend both her road race and time trial titles. A double win would make her the first woman since Jeannie Longo in 1989 to achieve that feat — and only the third in history. She’s also expected to target a medal in the omnium at the Paris 2024 Olympics, having already won silver in the event at Tokyo 2020.
For Axel Merckx, watching his daughter — also a competitive cyclist — race alongside riders like Kopecky offers a hopeful glimpse of the future. “Seeing the next generation compete, seeing how far the sport has come… it makes all the years worthwhile,” he said. “Dad smiles when he sees that. I know he does.”
As cycling continues to evolve, the Merckx name remains a touchstone — not as a burden, but as a beacon. And in Lotte Kopecky, Axel Merckx sees not just a worthy successor to that legacy, but a rider who may one day transcend it entirely.
Whether she “keeps going like this” or not, one thing is clear: Lotte Kopecky has already earned her place in the conversation. And for a son of Eddy Merckx to acknowledge that so openly? That’s perhaps the highest praise of all.
The next checkpoint in Kopecky’s season is the UCI Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, from September 22–29, 2024. Fans can follow live updates via the official UCI website and national broadcasters. For those inspired by her journey, local cycling clubs across Belgium and beyond continue to welcome new riders — a reminder that every champion starts with a single pedal stroke.
What do you think about Lotte Kopecky’s rise and what it means for cycling’s legacy? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and if this story resonated, consider sharing it with fellow fans who appreciate the sport’s rich history and exciting future.
