Eddy Merckx, widely regarded as the greatest cyclist in history, successfully underwent hip surgery on Monday, a procedure intended to halt the infection that has been dragging on for weeks.
The operation, combined with antibiotic therapy, aims to reduce the level of infection and stabilize his condition.
“Now we have to wait and see, but at least he is doing well,” his son, Axel Merckx, explained after the procedure in comments from The Latest News.
Hospitalization became necessary after the legendary ‘cannibal’ suffered further complications due to a hip infection discovered earlier this month. It contributes to a long medical process that started in December 2024, when he suffered a fracture following a cycling accident in Hombeek.
After that accident, the 80-year-old had a hip replacement, but the course did not go as expected. The implant failed to bond properly to the bone, requiring repeated surgeries and prolonging his recovery.
Since then, the five-time Tour de France winner has been in the operating room six times in just six months, during which four different prostheses were implanted.
All these procedures were performed under general anesthesia, a very demanding process at his age, but after the last operation, in September last year, the situation seemed to have stabilized.
“But the process did not go as well as we had hoped,” admitted Axel Merckx, explaining the need to step up the treatment.
Since the first course of antibiotics failed to produce results, the medical team opted for a more powerful solution. The procedure consisted of a surgical washout of the prosthesis, also under general anesthesia, aimed at removing pus and infected tissue to address the bacterial infection.
“Everything went according to plan. He has been moved from intensive care to a regular room and, considering the circumstances, he is doing well,” assured his son.
“Now we have to wait and see whether the washout has the desired effect,” he concluded, hoping that the health of his father, Eddy Merckx, will improve further.
