Meeting Eddy Merckx

A few years ago I had the opportunity to attend Interbike, the annual bicycle industry trade show in Las Vegas, with a couple coworkers. The show promised and delivered the chance to see all the cool new products that were being released for the next model year, talk to industry insiders, and learn about new product and tech.
Along with all the product and clinics, there were stars of the sport there. Meeting John Tomac again was a treat, as was big George Hincapie, Jay Miron, Ron Wilkerson. But our biggest surprise came while we were headed out to grab a drink when we noticed a familiar face at a table facing the isle...we both stopped, looked at each other, and said 'That's Eddy Merckx!'
Even though we were starving, we decided quickly that we couldn't let an opportunity like this pass by. We jumped in line and waited our turn to see Eddy. Waiting in line might seem like a horrible way to spend a half hour of your life at a trade show. In this case, it gave me more time to take it in - Eddy Merckx! I honestly never expected to ever meet him and in a few minutes I'd be standing right in front of him. I don't easily get starstruck. Eddy Merckx, however, is one of those people who are larger than life. I've read so many stories, read about his career, watched the movies and some of the races he competed in. Eddy has done what no other cyclist will likely ever be able to match.

When it came to my turn, I had Josh take my picture next to Eddy as he signed the poster. After taking the picture, I stood there next to Eddy for a second to take it all in. I looked at the poster, then looked at him and said 'that's you. you were there. I've never done anything like that. That's really awesome.' He just smiled at me. I thanked him and walked back around the table to take Josh's picture with Eddy. Josh walked up to him and said 'Eddy Merckx! You're the Man!'

I shipped the poster home so it wouldn't get damaged on the trip back. It now hangs outside my office at home where I can see it every day. It still amazes me to see the picture, the road, the bike he rode, the look on his face in the poster. He was there. He did that. He dominated.

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