1974 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race
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The Men's Individual Road Race of the 1974 UCI Road World Championships cycling event took place on August 25 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The route consisted of twenty-one laps around a circuit that contained two climbs within it, totaling to a length of 262.5 km (163.1 mi). Belgian Eddy Merckx won the race, while French riders Raymond Poulidor and Mariano Martínez finished second and third, respectively. This was Merckx's third victory in the men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships, equaling the record. In addition, he also completed the Triple Crown of Cycling, which consists of winning two Grand Tour races and the men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships in a calendar year.
The peloton of the race making a turn on the course
Eddy Merckx won his third men's road race at the UCI Road World Championships, equaling the record held by Alfredo Binda and Rik Van Steenbergen
Bernard Thévenet shown climbing during his solo escape that lasted for over 100 km (62 mi).
Eddy Merckx
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Édouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx, is a Belgian former professional road and track cyclist racer who is the most successful rider in the history of competitive cycling. His victories include an unequalled eleven Grand Tours, all five Monuments, setting the hour record, three World Championships, every major one-day race other than Paris–Tours, and extensive victories on the track.
Merckx in 1971
Merckx finished in twelfth position in the men's road race at the 1966 UCI Road World Championships.
At the 1967 Giro d'Italia Merckx won his first Grand Tour stages on the way to finishing ninth overall.
During the twelfth stage of the 1968 Giro d'Italia, Merckx caught the leading group, passed them, and rode solo to the stage finish atop the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (pictured) in poor weather to win the stage and take the race lead.