Merckx – In a Champion's Slipstream
Feature Docs
Run Time
85'
Genre
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.