Eddy Merckx is a guest of honor at the Tour de France today. He's following the race in Christian Prudhomme's car along with tennis star Justine Hénin. Today's route is similar to the epic stage “The Cannibal” contested in 1971 from Orcières-Merlette to Marseille the day after he lost in the Alps to Luis Ocaña. He attacked from the gun and rode flat out till the end, so that the local authorities missed the finish and were so upset that they didn't welcome the Tour again in France's second city until 1989. It's a completely different race today with Team Sky in control.
Newsflashes
July 21
st
2017
- 15:19
Eddy Merckx, remember 1971
