Eddy Merckx Bicycles

A name that needs no introduction, Eddy Merckx is the most successful cyclist of all time. With 525 palmarès to his name, ‘The Cannibal’ shot to fame in the late 1960s, winning the 1966 Milan-Sanremo and becoming the first Belgian to win the Giro d’Italia in 1968; he would go on to win it another four times. Alongside his success in Grand Tours – including five Tour De France victories – Merckx took 3 World Championships, 30 Spring Classic titles and the World Hour Record in 1972 with a distance of 49,431m which hold until the year 2000!

Eddy Merckx Bicycles

After leading the Molteni team between 1971 and 1976 to countless successes, Merckx retired from competition in 1978 and founded his own eponymous bicycle company in 1980. The aim was to design and build the greatest racing bikes in the world. Ugo De Rosa, who had a close relationship with Merckx after building his legendary hour record bike, led the frame-building of the new brand. Ugo De Rosa taught Merckx’s employees how to build frames – an area in which Merckx showed a keen interest whilst racing on De Rosa’s specially built bicycles.

The very first Eddy Merckx Professional models used to have Eddy Merckx signature on the lugs of the chainstays and have a very similar design and look of the 1980s De Rosa Professional models. Like this one that was ridden by Eddy Merckx himself:

The brand soon became revered by enthusiasts around the world. Merckx bicycles were highly regarded, and synonymous with prestige and high quality. 'The Cannibal' applied the same dedication that brought him numerous victories in running his own business, and many professional cycling teams used Merckx frames in the 1980s and 1990s – 7 Eleven, Motorola and Quickstep to name a few.

Despite the dominance of Asia in contemporary bicycle production, Eddy Merckx’s brand continue to operate in Brussels, Belgium, taking inspiration from the nearby sectors of pavé and the passionate following of cycling in Merck’s homeland.

Some of the greatest vintage Eddy Merckx bicycles are:

• - Eddy Merckx Professional and Professional Signatura (1980s - with the letters "A", "B" or "P" engraved on the frame)
• - Eddy Merckx Strada (with the letter "M" engraved on the frame)
• - Eddy Merckx Corsa (1980s-1990s - with the letter "C" engraved on the frame)
• - Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra (1980s -1990s - (with the letter "X" engraved on the frame)
• - Eddy Merckx MX Leader (1990s)