"I visited Walter with Roger De Vlaeminck in June" - Eddy Merckx mourns the passing of his rival

The cycling world mourns the passing of 10-time Tour de France stage winner, two-time Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix champion Walter Godefroot (82). The Belgian was able to find his footing in the era of Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck to build a legacy of his own. And he continued to do so after his career as a manager of the famous Team Telekom. There his paths with Merckx once again crossed through his son Axel who made a professional debut with this very team.

"Walter was a very good rider, a bronze medalist at the Olympic Games, but certainly also a very formidable opponent in the classics," Eddy Merckx commented on the sad news at HLN. "He beat me in the 1967 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, when we were two up in the rain and thunderstorms on the axe track at Rocourt. Walter was a bit faster at the finish than me, and he also beat me twice at the Belgian Championships."

"Walter was a very well-rounded rider. He was an all-arounder, not a true climber, but he could also hold his own and defend himself there because he was such a strong athlete. A champion and much more than a sprinter. His palmares is magnificent, and he also won Paris-Roubaix in 1969 against me."

"After his career, Walter briefly became a client of mine, buying bikes from us for his bike shop in Deurle. My son Axel also made his professional debut on Walter's team, which has launched many young riders. He's also a good team manager; he won the Tour with Ullrich."

The two men kept in touch even after their manager careers. "Until recently, I still heard from Walter regularly. Last year and this year, I visited Walter with Roger De Vlaeminck. The last time was in June. When I called Walter recently, his wife answered and said he wasn't doing so well, but when the news of his death reached me today, I was deeply moved."

"Walter, who I remember as a wonderful person with character, has deteriorated very rapidly. Since I'm still in the hospital recovering from surgery, I fear it will be difficult to attend his funeral, but my thoughts will certainly be with him."