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Eddy Merckx could face jail over bribing police allegations

Prosecutors claim Cannibal gave police chief and wife high-end bikes to secure contract

Cycling legend Eddy Merckx could face up to two years in jail after public prosecutors in Belgium recommended he stand trial on corruption charges relating to a contract to supply bikes to a police unit in Brussels.

The 70-year-old, who set up the bicycle business that bears his name two years after his retirement from competition in 1978,  is alleged to have gifted high-end bikes to a police chief and his wife to ensure his firm secured the contract, reports La Derniere Heure.

According to the newspaper, the alleged bribery took place in 2006 and 2007 when tenders were invited to supply 46 bicycles to police cycling units in Brussels covering the districts of Anderlecht, Forest and Saint-Gilles.

Prosecutors claim that Merckx was given details of rival bids by the police officer, named only as Philippe B., allowing the five-time Tour de France champion to undercut their prices with a backdated tender of his own.

The contract was reportedly worth €15,000 – a little under £11,500 – and with top of the range Merckx bikes (if that’s indeed what they were) costing several thousand euro - even at trade price, some might wonder if the allegations do not stack up, or indeed how much profit would have been left in the deal.

The case, in which 12 other people are said to be implicated, is due to go before a judge in September.

Yesterday, Merckx, whom prosecuters say was engaged in “active corruption,” told the newspaper: “I have nothing to say. Let’s see what happens.”

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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7 comments

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PaulBox | 7 years ago
1 like

Although I'm fully in favour of cleaning up business practices, going back in time like this is going to be very dangerous. Where/when do you draw the line?

Not so long ago it was how you got things done, I'm not saying that it was right, it's just how it was. 

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fenix | 7 years ago
0 likes

Seems like a very small deal to be involved with. I can't see this being progressed.

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nortonpdj | 7 years ago
2 likes

I don't disagree with you, Superpython, but likening someone to Hinault is *seriously* offensive  3

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MrMajic | 7 years ago
1 like

Bravo HalfWheeler. I've logged in just to "like" your comment. And I didn't get where I am today by logging in willy-nilly. 

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seyghal | 7 years ago
0 likes

"..the four-time Tour de France champion.."? He been stripped of one?

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HalfWheeler | 7 years ago
9 likes

He's not the messiah, he's a very naughty boy!

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Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
0 likes

As the article states, seems daft to swap top end bikes for such a small contract. 

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