Eddy Merckx: The Greatest Cyclist of the 20th Century (Paperback)

by Rik Vanwalleghem (Author), Steve Hawkins (Translator) "Who is Eddy Merckx?..." (more)
Key Phrases: main bunch, team time trial, directeur sportif, Van Looy, Tour de France, Eddy Merckx (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Combing through years of cycling literature and press archives, and seeking out friends, rivals, and the man himself, the author pieces together the disparate elements of Eddy Merckx's life. Cycling icons recollect Merckx's Tour de France victories, World Hour Record, doping scandal of 1969, and physical setbacks.

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Dutch

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: VeloPress (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884737722
• ISBN-13: 978-1884737725
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #715,887 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Eddy Merckx: The Dullest Cyclist of the 20th Century?, June 29, 2001

By	Leslie Reissner "Sprocketboy" (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Don't get me wrong: in cycling terms, Eddy Merckx is and will be the greatest rider who ever lived (Jeannie Longo another candidate, arguably). It is impossible to imagine anyone else being able to win 30% of the races he entered in a sport where just finishing is often a big deal, let alone owning the yellow, green and polka dot jerseys at the end of a single Tour de France. Eddy Merckx was a prodigious talent but, judging from this book, an astonishingly dull person. The author concentrates on Merckx the man rather than the racer and we find a lower-middle class Belgian with no schooling, no outside interests and a tendency towards complete silence. At the end of this poorly-structured and repetitive book, we feel nothing about the great dramas of the Cannibal's sporting life, his motivitations, his training methods. It seems he got on his bike, won the race and got off. Nothing heroic about any of this yet Merckx rode some of the most dramatic bike races ever.

The definitive Merckx book remains to be written. Save your money until then.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Subject-FASCINATING, Author-AWEFUL, June 28, 2002

By	M. Leger (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

Total agreement with the first 4 reviewers. Van Welleghem should not be writing, and if he has an editor, the editor should find another occupation. Eddy Mercxx was an idol of mine as a teenager, and still inspires my riding and racing today, several decades later. Unfortunately, this book is very poorly written--utterly repetitious, without inspiration or insight--it's making a fascinating subject a chore to explore.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book sums up the legacy of Merckx perfectly., July 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Eddy Merckx: The Greatest Cyclist of the 20th Century (Hardcover)

Eddy Merckx's life has been documented extensively in innumerable books. This book is a visual trip through his career, beliefs and life. I was struck reading this book at the enormity of the man and the sheer willpower it took to accomplish day after day the things he did. It shows the attitudes Merckx held that made him so good, and fairly documents the trials of staying on top for so long. I own this book, and will recommend it to anyone who wants to find the elements of success embodied in one man's life.