Eddy Merckx is fighting like a true warrior in the long battle related to his hip surgery. But now it seems that the worst part is behind him and, after surgical procedures, infections and rehabilitation, the Cannibal has finally returned home. In recent years, the life of Eddy Merckx, an absolute legend of world cycling, has been marked not only by memories of his sporting achievements, but also by a complex and prolonged battle against health problems related to hip surgery.

It all started on April 9, 2024, when the Flemish champion fell from his bike while crossing railway tracks near Mechelen. From a seemingly minor fall came a medical ordeal, which necessitated an initial surgical procedure with the installation of a hip prosthesis, followed by complications that led to new hospitalizations and reduced mobility. An operation that initially seemed destined to restore a normal life to the champion transformed into a long and complicated medical journey. Over time, in fact, Merckx was forced to undergo numerous hospitalizations and surgical procedures for prosthesis replacement due to recurring complications.

The most serious problem came with an infection in the new prosthesis, which required further operations and a prolonged hospital stay. The infection was diagnosed in early April and this forced Merckx to another hospitalization. It was yet another chapter in a difficult clinical saga that led the Cannibal to undergo surgery for the eighth time in less than two years. It should also be remembered that Eddy Merckx's health suffered a setback in March 2024, following intestinal surgery performed at the VUV Hospital in Brussels where he was operated on urgently in the middle of the night.

Despite everything, the champion never lost the determination that made him famous during his career. From his hospital bed he had stated: "I am a strong man, I believe, but... You never know, do you?", showing clarity and awareness in the face of a delicate situation. The latest hospitalization came in mid-April, when he was operated on again at AZ Monica: the procedure was technically successful, but required weeks of hospitalization and a long and demanding recovery process. Only after this period was Merckx finally able to return home.

A moment of relief was publicly shared by his daughter Sabrina who posted a photo of her smiling father accompanied by just one word: "Happiness". A simple but powerful signal that tells more than any medical bulletin.

Rehabilitation, however, remains a crucial phase. After repeated procedures and such an invasive infection, functional recovery will require time, constant physiotherapy and great patience. For a man accustomed to dominating the toughest climbs in world cycling, this is perhaps one of the most difficult challenges: slow, silent, and daily. Today, the return home represents an important step, but not the end of the journey. Eddy Merckx's recent story is not made of finish lines and yellow jerseys, but rather of resilience and resistance outside of racing, where the Champion has demonstrated determination and fighting spirit. The Cannibal is now in the care of his family, but the support for him is relentless and many people, every day, express closeness and solidarity with the strongest cyclist of all time.