The 1969 edition of the Tour de France was Merckx’s first. Coming off wins in other prestigious races such as the Giro d’Italia, Merckx had already established himself as one of the strongest riders in the world.
In the lead-up to the 17th stage, Merckx had already shown his class. By that point, he had worn the yellow jersey since Stage 6, and his competitors were left struggling to find a way to beat him. Nevertheless, even with a comfortable lead in the general classification, Merckx wasn’t content to simply ride defensively and protect his advantage. The 17th stage proved that he wasn’t just trying to win the Tour de France. He was out to dominate it.
The 17th stage was a brutal mountain stage in the Pyrenees, covering 214.5 kilometers and featuring four major climbs: the Col de Peyresourde, the Col d’Aspin, the Col du Tourmalet, and the Col d’Aubisque. These legendary ascents, combined with the distance, made it one of the hardest stages of the entire race, and it was the perfect stage for a rider like Merckx to demonstrate his climbing ability and endurance.
The stage began with a strong pace, and the riders tackled the Peyresourde and Aspin in typical fashion for a mountain stage. However, it was on the slopes of the Col du Tourmalet, the third climb of the day, where Merckx decided to make his move. With 140 kilometers still to go, Merckx attacked. This wasn’t a short burst to gain a few seconds—this was an all-out, long-range solo breakaway that would go down in history.
By the time Merckx reached the summit of the Tourmalet, he had already built up a gap on his rivals. But instead of waiting or pacing himself for the remainder of the stage, he pressed on with full force. After cresting the Aubisque, Merckx descended with the same intensity he had shown on the climbs. His rivals, including talented climbers and GC contenders, were left in disbelief, unable to match his pace.
The descents were just as dangerous as the climbs, especially after the exhaustion of multiple mountain passes, but Merckx handled them with precision and aggression. He powered through the valley roads with astonishing speed, and by the time he reached the finish in Mourenx, he had completed one of the greatest solo rides in Tour de France history.
