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10 October 2005

DVD Review: The Eddy Merckx Story

The Eddy Merckx Story - The Greatest Ever Champion

The Bromley Video release of "Eddy Merckx: The Greatest Ever Champion" is without doubt the most in-depth cycling biography ever made. This 192 minute, 2 DVD set, is absolutely loaded with fascinating and amazingly clear race footage from the Cannibal's legendary career. Interviews with Eddy himself speaking French and Italian. The subtitles are in English, and there is narration by THE voice of cycling, Phil Liggett.

The first disc in the set is a biographical account of Eddy's life starting with childhood taking us all the way to the mid 1990's, well into his career as a frame builder. For the hardcore cycling nut, there is nothing better than seeing scene after scene from a by-gone era when people attacked just because they could ... There was no waiting to the final climb or only racing the Tour! And nobody did it better than Eddy Merckx.

One of the great sections on disc one is Eddy's account of the 1975 Tour de France. Hear him and the 1975 Tour winner, Bernard Thévenet, tell blow by blow war stories from the famed race. There is footage of the infamous kidney punch Merckx receives from an overzealous Frenchman on the Puy de Dôme, and when Merckx is dropped on the stage to Pra Loup with a vicious attack by Thévenet. If this doesn't get you pumped to get out on your bike, nothing will!

Disc two highlights the rivalry between Merckx and Felice Gimondi, arguably the greatest ever Italian campione. Very in depth interviews with Merckx and Gimondi describing the fierce rivalry, along with the immense respect and friendship between the two. This disc will be particularly enjoyable to the multitude of Felice Gimondi fans. Gimondi is a true sportsman and gentleman! The psychology is fascinating: how he repeatedly was one-upped by Merckx but he never gave into the self-doubt of being in Merckx's shadow. And yet he looks back on his career with absolute satisfaction, and without regret.

Disc two also has some choice bonus footage at the end from the 1974 & 1975 Tours de France, the 1977 Tour of Flanders (where you see Freddy Maertens as World Champion in a break with Roger De Vlaeminck and Merckx on a bike borrowed from a fan!) and a special recording for Irish TV of Merckx's career. Absolutely fascinating knowledge for those who came of age long after the Cannibal had hung up his wheels, or for anybody who just plain enjoys biographical filmmaking. It's the perfect gift for the cycling mad person.
- Franco

Price: £33.99 or $59.00
(Win this DVD ... See details on contest page.)

Visit Bromley Video for this and other great DVD's.