Eddy Merckx doing "relatively well" post-crash according to daughter: "He'll do everything he can to get back on his feet"

On Monday afternoon, cycling legend Eddy Merckx was involved in a scary incident whilst riding near his home in Belgium as the 79-year-old crashed, being left hospitalised with a broken hip. In a positive update though, the five-time Tour de France winner's daughter has described him as doing "relatively well."

“He slipped when he crossed the train tracks. His hip is broken. They have to operate on him. He is currently on his way to the hospital in Herentals. We do not yet know exactly when he will be operated on. But that will probably not be before today,” Sabrina Merckx explains to HLN. "He's doing relatively well. He's in pain of course. It's severe. But apart from that he hardly has any abrasions or other injuries. For example, he didn't fall on his head. He got the full impact on his hip. Of course it's not pleasant to have surgery. That way you're left struggling. But if it has to be done, it has to be done."

Obviously, given his age, the fact that Merckx was involved in such a serious crash caused concern throughout of the cycling world. Even the legendary 'Cannibal' himself was concerned, explains his daughter. “Yes, he was very scared after the accident. But now he is in good hands," Sabrina reveals. "We already had Dr. Claes on the phone. He told us that he will normally recover well. And that it is a routine operation. With modern medical techniques it is an easy procedure. Of course you always have to wait and see how his condition develops. You can never be certain. But normally he should be able to walk again soon after the operation.”

Earlier this year, Merckx spent time in hospital for an emergency bowel operation. As such, it's not been the best year of the Belgian's life. "It doesn't stop. But he's strong, isn't he? He'll do everything he can to get back on his feet," says his daughter optimistically. "Although we can't forget that he's turning 80. That doesn't make it any easier. And we're also worried when he goes cycling, but that's his life. We can't take that away from him. He needs his bike ride."

"It is and remains an operation. There will be a prosthesis. And then comes the rehabilitation. That will take time," Sabrina Merckx concludes. "We'll see how it goes. But he is certainly looking at it positively."