Eddy Merckx gives update after surgery following fall

Cycling legend Eddy Merckx has shared an update after successfully undergoing hip replacement surgery following a fall that left him with a fractured hip. The 79-year-old, who won 11 Grand Tours in his career, was riding in his native Belgium when the accident occurred. His wife, Claudine, described the fall as “a stupid accident” with no other cyclists involved. “Eddy just lost his balance,” she said. “He knew right away something was wrong and felt a lot of pain.”

Merckx was taken to the hospital in Herentals, where he had surgery to replace his hip. From his hospital room, the five-time Tour de France winner told Het Nieuwsblad, “I’m in pain, but I was very lucky.” That’s the same hospital where Remco Evenepoel had his recent surgery after being doored, as well as where Wout van Aert went in the spring after his brutal crash at Dwars van Vlaanderen. (It’s also where van Aert was born.)

The accident happened around 1:20 p.m. when Merckx lost control on a slippery road near a railroad crossing. He doesn’t remember exactly how it happened, but he landed directly on his right hip. “I wasn’t going fast, but the road was slippery,” Merckx said. “Then suddenly, I was on the ground. I landed right on my hip, and I knew immediately something was broken.”

Although he’s in pain, Merckx is happy it wasn’t worse. “I’m in a lot of pain, but I realize how lucky I was,” he said. “The train barrier wasn’t down, no train was coming. I lay there for a while before people helped me. It could have been much worse.”

Merckx is just one of three male riders to ever have won cycling’s Triple Crown. In 2024, Tadej Pogacar achieved it, winning the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and road worlds. In 1987, Irishman Stephen Roche did. It was back in 1974 that the Belgian achieved the feat, which included a win at the road worlds in Montreal.