March 2/11 13:15 pm - Meet Axel Merckx at Obsession: Bikes in North Vancouver

Posted by Editoress on 03/2/11
 

Axel Merckx will be at Obsession: Bikes on March 4th (Friday ) between 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm, talking about Gran Fondos, his career in cycling and his upcoming event Grand Fondo Axel Merckx.

This is an informal event with an emphasis on good conversations, Belgium beer and fine cheese.

Born in 1972 in Uccle, Belgium, Axel is the son of five-time Tour de France champion Eddy Merckx. Although proud of his father's exploits, Axel has enjoyed his own superb racing career.

Axel began his professional cycling career in 1993 as a member of team Motorola. In addition to two tours of service with Motorola, Axel was a key rider on the Telekom, Polti, Mapei, Domo-Farm Frites, Lotto-Domo, Davitamon-Lotto, Phonak and T-Mobile squads before retiring in August, 2007.

Winner of the 2000 Belgian National Championship, he has participated in ten Tours de France, finishing as the highest-placed Belgian rider six times.

Axel captured a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Axel’s other accomplishments include stage wins in the Giro d'Italia and Dauphine Libere. He has also won the GP Sanson, the Tour de la Region Wallone, the Grand Prix de Wallonie, and the Tour de l'Ain. Axel's final victory came in August of 2007 in Lommel, Belgium.

Axel married Canadian triathlete Jodi Cross in 1997, and moved to Kelowna, British Columbia, upon his retirement in 2007.