Which Belgian cyclist was nicknamed The Cannibal?

Eddy Merckx was the Belgian cyclist nicknamed “The Cannibal.” The nickname reflected his relentless appetite for victory: a teammate’s daughter reportedly used the term after hearing that Merckx would not let other riders win, and it soon entered cycling journalism.

Merckx dominated professional cycling from the 1960s into the 1970s. His achievements included five Tour de France victories, five Giro d’Italia victories, one Vuelta a España, three world road championships, and wins in all five cycling Monuments. He was successful both in stage races and one-day classics, an unusually broad combination.

His career total is commonly given as 525 road victories, and he also excelled on the track. In 1972, he set a world hour record in Mexico City, extending the previous mark by nearly 800 metres. His extraordinary range and consistency made him widely regarded as one of cycling’s greatest riders.

The other listed cyclists were also prominent Belgians, but none is canonically associated with “The Cannibal.” Merckx is also known in Italy as “il Mostro,” or “the Monster.”