1945- . Belgian cyclist known as `the
Cannibal'. He won the Tour de France a joint
record five times 1969-74. Merckx turned
professional 1966 and won his first classic
race, the Milan-San Remo, the same year. He
went on to win 24 classics as well as the
three major tours (of Italy, Spain, and
France) a total of 11 times. He was world
professional road-race champion three times
and in 1971 won a record 54 races in the
season. He rode 50 winners in a season four
times. He retired in 1977. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Tour de France: 1969-72, 1974
Tour of Italy: 1968, 1970, 1972-74
Tour of Spain: 1973
world professional champion: 1967, 1971, 1974
world amateur champion: 1964.