"My vision was blurry, I didn't realize it right away": Eddy Merckx reveals he suffered a minor stroke last year

Cycling legend Eddy Merckx has revealed that he suffered a "minor stroke" last August, adding to a difficult string of recent health issues. The 80-year-old Belgian icon, widely considered the greatest rider in the history of the sport, opened up recently about the scary incident, which was initially spotted by his daughter while he was already hospitalized for ongoing hip complications.

Merckx, who celebrated his 80th birthday in June, explained that the stroke happened while he was already under medical care last summer. Surprisingly, it was his daughter who first noticed the warning signs rather than the hospital staff.

"She wanted to show me something on her phone and noticed that I couldn't see well on my left side," Merckx told Het Nieuwsblad. "My vision was blurry, I didn't realize it right away."

Fortunately, his cognitive functions and speech were not severely impacted, and medical help was quickly administered once the symptoms were flagged. "I never lost my speech either," he added. "A nurse arrived immediately. After a scan, they found a small cerebral hemorrhage. A minor stroke, then. Probably due to a medication error."

The minor stroke is the latest hurdle in a tough period for The Cannibal. His recent health struggles began after a fall in December 2024. He subsequently underwent surgery for a titanium hip prosthesis, which proved unsuccessful. A second attempt to install a cemented prosthesis also failed to yield the desired results. To make matters worse, the octogenarian developed a severe skin infection that required a heavy course of antibiotics earlier last year.

Despite his current physical battles, Merckx's legacy in the sport remains completely untouched. His palmarès includes five Tour de France victories and countless other historic achievements that still stand today, such as the 279 professional wins he got throughout his long and successful career.

Also, after Tadej Pogacar's historic win today at Milano-Sanremo, it is worth remembering that Merckx holds the absolute record at the opening Monument, having won La Primavera an astonishing seven times.