Approaching its 80th anniversary, the sacred legend of Belgian sport Eddy Merckx met the King of Belgium, Philippe, for an emotional sequence.
“The legends are eternal: almost 80 years on the clock and always the king of the time in our hearts! Baron Eddy Merckx is received in audience at the Laeken castle as it approaches its 80th anniversary ”wrote the official account of the Royal Palace of Belgium on Thursday.
Huge icon across the age of which is considered the greatest cyclist in history, Eddy Merckx was received by King Philippe at the Château de Laeken, the residence of the Belgian sovereign located north of Brussels. “It is always pleasant to be honored, especially by the king. It was a pleasant meeting “he explained in a telephone interview with theAFP.
King Philippe, 65, was 9 when Merckx won his first Tour de France In 1969. He was a big fan of the cyclist nicknamed “Le Cannibale” or “L’Ogre de Tervueren” (named after the rue de la Capitale where he lived), who won four other “Grande Boucle” (1971, 1972, 1974, 1975) as well as five Giro (1968, 1970, 1972, 1973) and a Vuelta (1973).
Eddy Merckx with three kings of Belgium
Before his 80th anniversary next Tuesday (he was born on June 17, 1945), Eddy Merckx notably received a photo of him with the three kings of Belgium that he rubbed shoulders, King Baudouin (from 1951 to 1993), King Albert II (from 1993 to 2013) and therefore King Philippe. Albert II, the father of Philippe, had given the cyclist the title of nobility of Baron in 1996.
King Philippe has held up news of Eddy Merckx’s health, operated by hip last December and who still has trouble walking properly. “It’s better from day to day. I still have to take a lot of antibiotics. But I hope to be able to go back by bike soon because I miss it. The days are long “said the man with 625 victories (525 on the road, 98 on track and two in cyclo-cross). Merckx also won seven Milan-San Remo or five Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
