1969 Tour de France
The 56th Tour de France was held until July 20, 1969 by June 28. It was attended by 130 racers participated in the tour, of which 86 were classified. The move away from the national team has been retained to this day, Eddy Merckx won again carried out with brand teams tour.
Race course
For its first participation Merckx won not only the overall ratings, but all the important votes of the tour: the green jersey, the mountains classification, introduced last year as well as the combined score.
On the sixth stage on the Ballon d' Alsace Merckx won his first Tour stage and take over the overall lead. In 1969 Merckx won the Tour five more stages: one in the Alps, one in the Pyrenees, the shorter the time trial at Revel and Divonne- les- Bains and the final time trial in Paris. In the Pyrenees stage won by him Merckx attacked on the Col du Tourmalet and was after a more than 130 -km-long solo flight stage winner with about eight minutes ahead.
In Paris Merckx had at the end of almost 18 minutes ahead of the runner-up, the winner from 1967, Roger Pingeon, who won a stage. Meanwhile compatriot Raymond Poulidor finished third overall.
Merckx ' dominance was dubbed after the tour by tour director Jacques Goddet as " Merckxissimo " Merckx ' team -mate Christian Raymond referred to him as " cannibals ".