Okay, so Eddy Merckx-the name alone, it’s just legendary, isn’t it? Even if you’re not a die-hard cycling fan, even if you just vaguely remember the yellow jersey, you’ve probably heard it. He’s called The Cannibal, you know. Not because he actually, literally, ate people-though his competitors might have felt like he was devouring their souls, their careers, their every hope of victory. Nope, it’s because he was relentless. Absolutely, unapologetically, insatiably dominant. And now, this incredible new documentary, ‘Merckx – Race of a Champion’ by Christophe Hermans and Boris Tilquin, is finally hitting the screen here in Denmark at CPH:DOX, alongside a podcast event. It’s kind of a big deal, actually, because it shines a spotlight on this icon, this force of nature, in a way that feels incredibly human.

You see, for decades, Merckx has been this almost mythological figure. Five Tours de France, five Giri d’Italia, three World Championships-I mean, we’re talking about a guy who won everything. His palmares, his list of victories, it’s longer than most cyclists’ entire careers. It’s almost mind-boggling when you look at the stats. And yet, beneath all those wins, all that sheer, undeniable athletic prowess, there was a man. A guy who probably felt pain, who probably doubted himself-at least sometimes, right? This film, it seems, aims to peel back some of that myth-making and let us see a bit more of the Eddy behind the legend.

The Cannibal’s Appetite: Unpacking the Hunger

Here’s the thing about Merckx’s dominance-it wasn’t just that he won a lot. It was how he won. He attacked relentlessly, often from miles out, refusing to let up even when he had a commanding lead. Other riders, they’d conserve energy, right? Play it safe. Merckx? Nah. He’d just hit the gas again, and again, and again. It was almost rude, some might say-but also undeniably captivating. I remember reading once that he’d jump on every tiny attack because he genuinely felt if he didn’t, he was letting his competitors get an inch, which they’d then try to take a mile. That’s a certain kind of perfectionism, bordering on obsession, that you just don’t see very often. What drove that? Was it just pure competitive fire, or something deeper?

Beyond the Podium: What Made Him Tick?

Now, you might think, “Well, he was just genetically superior, a machine.” And sure, there’s probably some truth to that. But you don’t achieve that level of sustained excellence, across different types of races, year after year, without a truly unshakeable mental fortitude. This is where a documentary like ‘Merckx – Race of a Champion’ can really shine, because it moves past the highlight reels and tries to grasp the psychological aspect of it all. What were his anxieties? What were his motivations when he was pushing himself to breaking point, alone, far ahead of the peloton? I’m genuinely curious about the vulnerability behind the power, if that makes sense.

• Point: His refusal to ever ‘rest on his laurels’ during a race. It wasn’t about winning by a comfortable margin; it was about crushing the opposition completely, unequivocally.
• Insight: This wasn’t just about athletic prowess; it was a psychological weapon. He broke riders mentally long before he broke them physically. Imagine being in the peloton, seeing him go, and just knowing, “Well, that’s it then.” Soul-destroying, probably.

You know, for us fans, we see the results, we cheer, we marvel. But what happens in those quiet moments, the ones where the cameras aren’t fixed on the finish line? The training, the sacrifices, the sheer brutality of the sport itself before all the modern gizmos and nutrition plans? That’s the stuff that builds legends, and I’m hoping this film really takes us into that gritty reality.

“He was always hungry for more. It wasn’t enough to beat them; he had to destroy them completely.” – A quote I imagine one of his former rivals might utter, perhaps with a slight shudder.

The Danish Connection: Why Now? Why Here?

It’s fascinating that this European premiere is happening in Denmark, at CPH:DOX no less. Denmark has a huge cycling culture, of course, absolutely burgeoning these days. We’ve got Jonas Vingegaard, a newer kind of hero, maybe less “cannibalistic” in his approach but equally dominant in his own right. It’s almost like a passing of the torch, or rather, a re-examination of what true greatness means in cycling. Is it about the aesthetic of the win, or just the win itself? Merckx, he was all about the win, by any means necessary, within the rules of course. You can’t help but wonder if the younger generation of cyclists, and fans, will see something of themselves, or something aspirational, in Merckx’s story.

A Conversation Across Eras

The podcast event is actually a brilliant addition, I think. It’s not just showing the film; it’s creating a space for dialogue. You get to hear from the directors, maybe some cycling experts-who knows, maybe even Merckx himself if we’re super lucky (though that might be wishful thinking on my part). But it allows for a deeper dive, away from the cinematic narrative, into the broader implications of his reign. You can ask questions that the film might not explicitly answer. Like, how would Merckx have fared in today’s peloton, with all its tactical precision and data analytics? Could he still have been as dominant? My gut says yes-pure willpower and engine never go out of style-but it’s a fun thought experiment.

• Point: The shift in cycling from individualistic heroics to highly organized team strategies.
• Insight: Merckx, arguably, was the last of the truly great soloists. He often won despite his team, not always because of them. Current champions, while incredible, operate in a very different ecosystem. This doc might highlight that contrast without even trying to.

It’s kind of like looking at a Picasso and then looking at a modern digital artist’s work. Both are art, both are brilliant, but they come from entirely different contexts and creative approaches. Merckx is that Picasso moment in cycling-bold, uncompromising, leaving an indelible mark.

So, ‘Merckx – Race of a Champion’. It’s more than just a historical account, really. It’s an exploration of an incredible human being, an athlete who pushed the boundaries of his sport and, in doing so, etched his name into eternity. Attending the premiere and the subsequent podcast, for me, it’s not just about watching a film. It’s about connecting with a piece of history, and maybe even understanding a little bit more about what drives us, as humans, to reach for the absolute pinnacle of whatever we choose to pursue. Because let’s be honest, whether you’re racing bikes or writing an article, that relentless pursuit of excellence, that “cannibal” fire within-it’s something we all kind of understand, deep down, isn’t it? It just manifests differently for all of us.