Eddy Merckx talks to Podium Cafe
by Susie Hartigan on May 27, 2011 1:32 PM EDT
in Giro d'Italia
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PrintYesterday in San Pellegrino Terme, I ran into Eddy Merckx in the cafe outside the stage headquarters, and he graciously agreed to answer a few questions. Unfortunately, it's a bit difficult to hear what Eddy says, since the cafe was playing some cheesy music, and Eddy speaks very quickly.
On the plus side, every stupid thing I said comes through loud and clear. (Lowlight: Eddy says he remembers the 1968 Giro because it was his first grand tour win, but says the 1969 Tour was the best memory of his career, and then I ask if that's because the "69 Tour was his first grand tour win. Ugh! First Tour de France win, I meant to say). Ah well, if I deep sixed every interview in which I sound stupid, I wouldn't be able to post any interviews at all ;-)
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Blimey... you really are doing a stellar job this Giro.
Complimenti!
"I’m hoping for the Mortirolo-Gavia combination, then we can ride down to Bormio for ice cream." Emma Pooley on the Giro Donne
"When you're the best, you have to race" - awesome.
Thanks, Tifosa.
Had he been drinking or does he always sound like that? He was slurring his words when you asked him about AC.
Proactively "From the Sea"; leveraging the littoral best practices for a paradigm breaking six-sigma best business case in the global commons, rightsizing the core values supporting our mission statement via the 5-vector model through cultural diversity
Always sounds a bit like that
but I imagine it’s a little bit worse because he talks English, his fourth language.
Well
I think we can just close this site down now. No topping that.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 27, 2011 1:41 PM EDT reply actions
shove over a bit, will ya?
"luckily for me i was born with an extremely high hemassholecrit level. no pills needed." -ant1
As much I like coming here
I’d accept closing the site down on this note.
Nice work, Tifosa, thanks.
by Spot of Bother on May 27, 2011 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions
yeah well put
I'm feverished, or the way you want to spell it
by plinytheelder on May 28, 2011 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Never heard of Eddy Merckx?
Dude, he’s one of the Merckx brothers. Eddy, Chico, Harpo and Groucho Merckx.
Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger, badger...
by TheFigurehead on May 27, 2011 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
comment of the week
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 27, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Name me another sport where you can just spot the greatest of all time,
Ask them for a couple of minutes, and they graciously give it to you. And seem happy to do so.
Great job tifosa, you didn’t Farley once.
Sea Otter Classics (tm c R I’ll fucking sue you)
Ha!
I was this close to saying, “Remember when you won Milano-San Remo seven times? That was awesome!”
by Susie Hartigan on May 27, 2011 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
If you had done that on video,
I would have overthrown Chris and installed you as Editor and Chief. And I don’t think Chris would have put up a struggle.
Sea Otter Classics (tm c R I’ll fucking sue you)
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 27, 2011 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Thank you Tifosa!
Thanks for sharing all these great moments from all the Giros you’ve been to.
Sign seen at entrance of local bike shop, " \o/ spoken here.". - Okay, I made it up, but wouldn't that be cool?
This was definitely the highlight of my Giro experience!
I was taking pictures of the outside of the casino that housed the stage headquarters in San Pellegrino Terme when I first spotted Merckx talking with Philippe Brunel of L’Equipe. Philippe is the nicest, friendliest guy in the press room, so when I saw them having an extended, chummy conversation, it gave me confidence to approach Eddy when I ran into him later in the day.
When I originally asked Eddy for an interview, he said he would do it after he appeared on Processo alla Tappa, but then we saw eachother again at the cafe. After he finished his panino, he came over to my table and said we could do the interview right then, if I wanted. Then he said, “but maybe you want to finish your lunch.” Ha! I was like, “lunch, what lunch? I may never eat again! It’s Eddy Merckx!”
by Susie Hartigan on May 27, 2011 5:43 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Way totally cool,
Sign seen at entrance of local bike shop, " \o/ spoken here.". - Okay, I made it up, but wouldn't that be cool?
rec'ed
Sign seen at entrance of local bike shop, " \o/ spoken here.". - Okay, I made it up, but wouldn't that be cool?
unreal
pure class.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 27, 2011 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Wow, what a total star!
And Eddy’s pretty cool too ;-D
Seriously, thank you SO much for this, and all your Giro reports!
by Sarah Connolly on May 28, 2011 5:14 AM EDT up reply actions
forget shutting this place down - it's now Tifosa's Cafe...
Total class of him to come to you and offer to do the interview. What a champion! I so wish I could have seen him race live!
by JustJoshinYa on May 28, 2011 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Aww, that's so nice :)
Also, I confess to being a total Brunel groupy. It’s cool to hear he’s a nice dude. I love his race writing.
Amazing Tifosa...what a special moment.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Get outta here!
I miss most of today’s stage, come to the cafe this evening to see what has happened and what do I find, sitting top and centre?
None other than a genuine interview with Eddie. THE Eddie.
Tifosa, you have excelled yourself beyond imagination. Mostly because the furthest that my imagination goes is to do what you just did, have a chat with Eddie. Well if the truth be known, in my version we are knocking back beers together, but gather that was not appropriate?
Awesome. Just awesome!!
"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi
by muk on May 27, 2011 10:18 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
www.hill108project.blogspot.com
After reading all the Material on Wouter’s death coming across this article’s comments had me laughing hard with tears running down my face !
Eddie was awaiting the arrival of the KIng of Belgium last year in Brussels but still made time to come across to me and sign “Skippy’s Legacy” .
That is the type of guy he is with all !
On a negative note i wa in the Entry to the Permanence of the TDF when i spotted and chatted the late Charly Gaul after finishing i spotted some Aussie Journos(wankers) and offered to introduce them . Their reply " we only shake hands with 5 time winners !" Hope Eddie knows and avoids them like poison .
SKIPPY AN ADVOCATE FOR DISABLED SPORT
by Skippy Mc Carthy on Jun 2, 2011 5:35 AM EDT reply actions
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