IN PICTURE. Eddy Merckx, who has lost weight, makes his first public appearance since the operation

The 78-year-old cycling legend, who won La Doyenne five times in his career, underwent surgery last month due to an intestinal crisis. Merckx underwent emergency surgery, but was allowed to return home fairly quickly. In the meantime he has lost a lot of weight.

Merckx was accompanied in Aywaille by well-known names such as Philippe Gilbert, Bernard Hinault, Ferdinand Bracke, Laurent Jalabert, Thor Hushovd, Joseph Bruyère and his son Axel Merckx. The Maison du Cyclisme is an interactive museum of 300 square meters, divided into eight themes. “We hope to organize several events around this new location,” said Alderman Christian Gilbert. “And to allow visitors to come several times and discover something different each time.”