Eddy Merckx could face jail over bribing police allegations

Cycling legend Eddy Merckx could face up to two years in jail after public prosecutors in Belgium recommended he stand trial on corruption charges relating to a contract to supply bikes to a police unit in Brussels.

The 70-year-old, who set up the bicycle business that bears his name two years after his retirement from competition in 1978,  is alleged to have gifted high-end bikes to a police chief and his wife to ensure his firm secured the contract, reports La Derniere Heure.

According to the newspaper, the alleged bribery took place in 2006 and 2007 when tenders were invited to supply 46 bicycles to police cycling units in Brussels covering the districts of Anderlecht, Forest and Saint-Gilles.

Prosecutors claim that Merckx was given details of rival bids by the police officer, named only as Philippe B., allowing the five-time Tour de France champion to undercut their prices with a backdated tender of his own.

The contract was reportedly worth €15,000 – a little under £11,500 – and with top of the range Merckx bikes (if that’s indeed what they were) costing several thousand euro - even at trade price, some might wonder if the allegations do not stack up, or indeed how much profit would have been left in the deal.

The case, in which 12 other people are said to be implicated, is due to go before a judge in September.

Yesterday, Merckx, whom prosecuters say was engaged in “active corruption,” told the newspaper: “I have nothing to say. Let’s see what happens.”