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Eddy Merckx, the Belgian cycling legend, had a career that overlapped with Maertens'. Merckx, often regarded as the greatest cyclist of all time, dominated professional cycling during the 1960s and 1970s, winning an unparalleled five Tour de France titles, five Giro d'Italia crowns, and a record-breaking 34 stage victories in the Tour de France. His prowess and achievements in cycling earned him the nicknames "The Cannibal" and "The Master".