Concerns over hospitalized Eddy Merckx: "You don’t understand the problem"

There is concern in Belgium for cycling legend Eddy Merckx, who has been hospitalized for about a week with a hip infection that is not improving despite the antibiotic regimen he is undergoing. The Cannibal is in a lot of pain and is considering surgery to resolve the situation.

Everything originated from a bike crash in 2024, when Merckx fractured his hip when he slipped on a level crossing. Since then, the ordeal had begun for the former cyclist, now 81 years old next June: six operations, a prosthesis that was not fixed properly, and even an illness suffered in Antwerp.

Merckx now wants to solve the problem once and for all: “The doctors cannot pinpoint the origin of this infection, and since antibiotics don’t have much effect, they should operate on me again next Monday. Enough of this nonsense, I’ve had enough!” he frustratedly told Het Laatste Nieuws.

The news comes at a time when Merckx’s name is powerfully back at the center of international cycling debate. Just a few days ago, on April 5, Tadej Pogacar won his third Tour of Flanders, bringing to 12 the number of Monument Races in his trophy cabinet and surpassing Roger De Vlaeminck in the all-time rankings. The Slovenian outclassman now ranks second in the list of greatest Monument winners, distant but not too far from the overall record that belongs to Merckx himself, who stands at 19 victories.