A biography for Eddy Merckxhasn’t been written yet.
“Cyclists live with pain, if you can't handle it you will win nothing.”
“I was a more aggressive rider than Armstrong. I would attack more often. He waits for the other guys, then counter-attacks.”
“You need talent as a rider and I think I had that in my genes. But I think I also had a talent for suffering, which I thought was important, but also determination.”
“I always thought Mario Cipollini was difficult to beat but I think Cipollini would have found it very hard against Cavendish.”
“I have no regrets at all. With all the races I won, what regrets could I possibly have?”
“Doping has to be fought, cheats must be unmasked, abuse should be punished but all this should remain human.”
“It's difficult for him, carrying the name. But Axel is doing what he likes to do, and for me, if Axel's happy, I'm also happy.”
“I cycle two or three times a week.”
“Everything being equal, no sickness or crashes, there's nobody who can beat Lance Armstrong at the Tour de France.”
“If you have big talent and don't train it's all over.”
“The smaller races were where you made your money.”
“Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short as you feel. But ride.”
“I always had and I still have that special desire in me to be the best.”
“If a rider is concerned about questionable practices, it's his duty to speak up for the good of others.”
“You had to be strong in the head... training, training and training. That is the only way, even if you have big talent.”
“Cavendish is a fantastic and jovial boy.”
“The sport will benefit when star riders start races.”
“I find it difficult, the method of working in the cycling union, the lack of professionalism.”
“I wore the yellow jersey 96 times. It is the best memory of my career. It still gives me goosebumps.”
“You need just as much drive to be a good businessman as you do to excel as an athlete.”