Provenance:
European private collection

Certificate:
Email from the De Rosa Bicycle Company, Italy, 2023

Eddy Merckx is considered the greatest cyclist of all time, and few argue with that assessment. His incredible strength and determination earned him the nickname 'The Cannibal'. He had no weaknesses – he was the strongest time trialist and climber in the world, and could outsprint all but a few rivals. Although his list of major victories is impressive, it is almost more impressive when one considers the records he holds for victories in major races. He recorded a staggering 525 victories throughout his career, including winning all five one-day ‘Monuments of Cycling’ (i.e., Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris–Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and the Giro di Lombardia).

Merckx was the first man (and since equalled only by Stephen Roche) to win the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and World Professional Road Race in the same year (1974). Only he, Jacques Anquetil, Felice Gimondi, Bernard Hinault, and Alberto Contador have ever won all three of the grand tours – Tour de France, Giro d'Italia, and the Vuelta à España, but only Merckx also won at the other major tour, the Tour de Suisse.

He rode the Tour de France only eight times, twice when past his prime, and in 1973, because he was so dominant, he was asked by Tour organizers not to race because they felt his superiority was ruining the Tour.

The De Rosa Eddy Merckx bicycle presented here is a De Rosa bicycle with special Molteni Team orange paint, Eddy Merckx decals and a selection of high-end components. The bicycle is in very good, race-driven condition.