Eddy Merckx hospitalised after bike crash

79-year-old cycling legend required to undergo surgery on broken hip

Eddy Merckx in Brussels
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Legendary cyclist Eddy Merckx has broken his hip in a “stupid” cycling accident in Belgium, his wife has said.

The 79-year-old crashed his bike on Monday afternoon, falling in a town on the outskirts of the city of Mechelen. He was assisted at the scene by onlookers, who phoned for an ambulance for the five-time Tour de France champion.

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Tom Davidson
Senior News and Features Writer

Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is fluent in French and Spanish, and holds a master's degree in International Journalism, which he passed with distinction. Since 2020, he has been the host of The TT Podcast, offering race analysis and rider interviews.

An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill, and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides. His best result is 28th in a hill-climb competition, albeit out of 40 entrants.

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