Ride with Axel Merckx in Belgium

Axel Merckx sporting the Belgian national jersey in 2001. (Tim de Waele)

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Former Belgian national champion Axel Merckx retired from professional racing in August 2007, and now the Athens Olympic bronze medallist has formed a touring company based in his adopted home of Kelowna, British Columbia.

His first tour is scheduled for April 21 - 27 in Belgium, a combination of cycling the Belgian countryside, watching the Flèche-Wallone race, and touring his father Eddy's bicycle factory in Meise. Saddle time includes portions of the course included in Fleche-Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege (which Axel raced 13 times in his career). The Belgian Ardennes will also be included in the ride schedule.

Born in 1972 in Uccle, Belgium, Axel is the son of five-time Tour de France champion Eddy Merckx.

Axel began his professional cycling career in 1993 with Team Motorola. Merckx raced for Telekom, Polti, Mapei, Domo-Farm Frites, Lotto-Domo, Davitamon-Lotto, Phonak and T-Mobile squads before retiring in August 2007. Axel married Canadian triathlete Jodi Cross in 1997, and currently resides in Kelowna, British Columbia. He has two children, Axana and Athina.

Cost of the Belgian tour is US$4,875 (includes everything but airfare). For more information, visit his website.

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