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Eddy Merckx honoured with a stamp as he turns 65

Belgian postal service commemorates cycling legend's birthday...

The legendary Eddy Merckx turned 65 yesterday – doesn’t time fly? – and in a move that is sure to excite cycling philatelists everywhere, De Post, the Belgian national postal service, has marked the occasion by issuing a commemorative stamp.

The stamp depicts the five times Tour de France winner in the Maillot Jaune with the Arc de Triomphe in the background, and was officially unveiled yesterday in the presence of the great man himself, accompanied by luminaries including Belgian prime minister Yves Leterme.

In a statement on the Eddy Merckx Cycles website, CEO Johnny Thijs said: “We're all proud of Eddy Merckx. With this special postage stamp for his 65th birthday we honour the greatest Belgian athlete ever.”
 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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handlebarcam | 14 years ago
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Cue jokes about fans getting to lick Eddy Merckx. (In the sense of defeating him in a sporting contest. Licking Belgians still hasn't been sanctified by the pope.)

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Tony Farrelly replied to handlebarcam | 14 years ago
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handlebarcam wrote:

Cue jokes about fans getting to lick Eddy Merckx. (In the sense of defeating him in a sporting contest. Licking Belgians still hasn't been sanctified by the pope.)

ah, you haven't read this afternoon's newsletter yet  1

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NickInBath | 14 years ago
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G-bitch | 14 years ago
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*ahem*... Hercule Poirot?

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wild man | 14 years ago
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And certainly the greatest Belgian!

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NickInBath | 14 years ago
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"greatest Belgian athlete ever"

How about, "greatest athlete ever" ?

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