Axel Merckx

Axel Merckx ( born August 8, 1972 in Ukkel ) is a former Belgian cyclist.

Career

First stop in the career of Axel Merckx as a cyclist was the Team Telekom. In 1995, he joined the Motorola team, where he was teammate of Lance Armstrong. His other stations were from 1997 to 1998 the team Polti, 1999-2000 Mapei -Quick Step, 2001-2002 Domo - Farm Frites and 2003-2004 Lotto Domo. In 2005, he stood by the UCI ProTeam Davitamon -Lotto under contract. In 2006 he rode for Phonak. After the dissolution of this team, he moved in 2007 to the T- Mobile team, where he finished his career as a professional cyclist in August 2007.

His greatest success Merckx in 2000 by winning the Belgian Straßenradmeisterschaft and the eighth stage of the Giro d' Italia. Also in 2000, he won the Tour de Wallonie. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, he was twelfth in the road race, in 2004 he won at the Athens Games bronze medal behind the Italian Paolo Bettini and the Portuguese Sergio Paulinho. Nine times Merckx contested the Tour de France; 1998 was his best result in the overall standings tenth.

Since the end of his active career Axel Merckx working as team director at U23 team Trek - Livestrong, which was founded by Lance Armstrong, today Bontrager Cycling Team.

Private

Axel Merckx is the son of five -time Tour de France winner Eddy Merckx. On October 27, 1997, he married Jodi Cross, a Canadian triathlete.