Merckx – In a Champion's Slipstream

Feature Docs

Run Time

85'

Year of Production

2022

Producer

Kaos Films & RTBF

Pitch

He was called "The Cannibal" because he seemed to devour his opponents. Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx won everything there was to win on a bike between 1967 and 1975: five Tours de France, five Giros, three World Championships, one Vuelta, a legendary world hour record in Mexico, and a multitude of classics. In less than a decade, he became the ultimate icon of cycling.

Directors Christophe Hermans and Boris Tilquin offer a fresh perspective on the Merckx phenomenon. In this documentary, composed entirely of archival footage, the highs and lows of his career unfold naturally. But Merckx is more than just a list of victories and crashes. Rare, unseen images also paint a portrait of a remarkable era when cycling was undergoing a transformation. The film reveals the inspiring man behind the legend and tells a universal story about willpower, and how it can be harnessed to overcome the greatest challenges.

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