The end of the cannibal

Although the resort in the southern Alps has hosted only two Tour stages, it was the setting for one of the great turning points in cycling history: the end of Eddy Merckx's reign in 1975. Having already won five editions of the Tour, “the Cannibal” suffered a collapse on the final climb of the 15th stage that was fatal to his chances of a sixth. “He didn't advance, moving scarcely any faster than a good country postman,” wrote journalist Pierre Chany. When he finished at Pra-Loup almost two minutes in arrears, Merckx found he had lost his last yellow jersey to Bernard Thévenet. The Frenchman had won his sixth Tour stage, and it was the one that a few days later would allow him to add his name to the race's palmarès. Eddy Merckx's retirement in 1978 didn't make every rider happy. On the evening of his stage victory at Pra-Loup in 1980, his faithful teammate Jos Schoenmacker admitted he was missing the good old days: “Since Eddy retired, cycling isn't the same for me. To be honest, I confess I am now a little but bored in the bunch. However, the level is now such that I can still hold my place easily.”