The cannibal Eddy Merckx became world champion 3 times in his career as a professional cyclist (1967, 1971 and 1974), but before that he also became world amateur champion in 1964 in Sallanches, France. However, it didn't matter much or Eddy Merckx wasn't selected for this Worldchampionship
All riders who were in the pre-selection had to undergo an examination in Ghent, which turned out negative for Eddy Merckx. The tests indicated that he had a heart problem and the idea that he could never become a professional cyclist began to surface.
Eddy Merckx in the jersey of the amateur world champion in Sallanches. Silver was for Willy Planckaert
But that was without counting his mother. She contacted their family doctor Dr Fesler who had previously tested Eddy's heart with exceptional results and even more without any abnormalities. Dr Fesler ran tests again and again everything was excellent.
Eddy's mother then contacted Oscar Daemers, who was responsible for the pre-selection at the time, and explained her indignation. Daemers immediately felt attacked and replied that Dr Fesler did not understand and that the electrocardiogram had revealed an arrhythmia in Eddy's heart.
Mother Merckx would act out of maternal love and not want to face reality. Daemers replied that Eddy had already won a few smaller races, but could certainly not handle larger competitions and that he could not drive up a molehill yet.
Just when Eddy's mother was about to give up her fight, Oscar Daemers spoke up. He said he would select Eddy for the 100 km team time trial. A very heavy effort for a young rider and why should Eddy be allowed to participate in this race and not in the road race. Daemers admitted that there was nothing wrong with Eddy's heart.
Daemers realized he had slipped the slip and ended the conversation abruptly. Eddy's mother contacted their family doctor again, who demanded that Dr Marlier perform a new test. He immediately fell through and admitted that he had falsified the real results on Daemers' orders.
Mother Merckx replied that she would file a complaint with the Order of Physicians with the result that Eddy was subjected to new tests with miraculous results this time. However, this was not enough to select him for the road race, Jean Van Buggenhout still had to convince the Cycling Union, which he also succeeded.
Eddy Merckx was no longer selected for the team time trial, but he was selected for the road race. The rest is history, he escaped on the last lap and crossed the finish line alone. Immediately after the World Cup in Sallanches, mother Merckx received a telegram from Oscar Daemers in which he congratulated her and thanked her for following her advice.
The question is what the career of the world's greatest rider of all time would have looked like if mother Merckx had not been stubborn and had not insisted on selecting her son.
Source Eddy Merckx – The man behind the cannibal
