Axel Merckx facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Axel Merckx

Personal information
Full name	Axel Merckx
Born	(1972-08-08) 8 August 1972 (age 52) Uccle, Belgium
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Weight	77 kg (170 lb)
Team information
Current team	Hagens Berman Jayco
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider (retired) General manager Team manager
Rider type	All-rounder
Major wins
Grand Tours Giro d'Italia 1 individual stage (2000) Stage races Tour de l'Ain (2003) One-day races and Classics National Road Race Championships (2000) GP de Wallonie (2001)

Axel Eddy Lucien Merckx (born August 8, 1972) is a Belgian former professional road bicycle racer. He is the son of the famous five-time Tour de France champion, Eddy Merckx. Today, Axel works as a team director for the Hagens Berman Jayco cycling team.

During his career from 1993 to 2007, Axel achieved some great wins. He became the Belgian national road race champion in 2000. He also won a bronze medal in the road race at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Axel Merckx's Cycling Journey

Axel Merckx was born in Uccle, Belgium. He started his professional cycling career in 1993. He aimed to achieve things his famous father hadn't, like winning a Tour de France stage at Alpe d'Huez. While he didn't win those specific races, he still had a very successful career.

Tour de France Achievements

Axel competed in the Tour de France eight times. He was the highest-placed Belgian rider six times, which is a big achievement. His best finish was tenth overall in the 1998 race. This shows he was a consistent and strong rider.

Olympic Medal Win

In 2004, Axel won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Athens. He competed in the road race. He made a strong move in the final kilometer to secure his medal.

Later Career and Retirement

In 2006, Axel announced he would sign a new contract for one more season. He thought this would be his last year as a professional cyclist. However, he later signed with Team T-Mobile, where he had started his career. During the 2006 Tour de France, Axel played a key role in helping his teammate, Floyd Landis. He often stayed with Landis and the leading group of riders.

Axel Merckx officially retired from professional cycling at the end of the 2007 Tour de France. He won his very last race in Lommel, Belgium, in August 2007. After retiring from racing, Axel became the owner and directeur sportif (team manager) of the Hagens Berman Jayco team.

Axel's Family Life

Axel Merckx married Canadian triathlete Jodi Cross in 1997. They lived in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. They have two daughters named Axana (born in 2001) and Athina Grace (born in 2005).

As of April 2024, Axel is in a relationship with American cyclist Chloe Dygert. They live together in Belgium.

A Special Title

Axel's father, Eddy Merckx, was given the title of a baron in Belgium. This is a special personal title. Because of this, Axel also received a hereditary title called Jonkheer (in Dutch). This means he has also been recognized as part of the Belgian nobility.

Major Cycling Wins

See also

In Spanish: Axel Merckx para niños