"I think it is kind of funny that I end up back with T-Mobile at the end of my career. It feels like I have come full circle in my 13 years as a professional," says Merckx with a wry smile.

The son of the cycling's living legend had originally planned to see out his career at Phonak. However, fate intervened and after the Swiss team folded in the wake of the Floyd Landis doping positive, the Belgian postponed his retirement and sought a fresh challenge: "I didn’t just want to go and leave the scene“, says the father of two, who considered leaving the sport behind before plumping for one more year in the peloton.

“I will support the young riders”
A lot of teams came knocking on the door of the 1.91 metre man, anxious to secure his services for next season. In the end it was T-Mobile who were first to his signature. "The contact started when the team's technical director Luuc Eisenga got a hold of me during the Tour of Britain and said they were interested in my experience and my image for next year."

"The team concept and management's clean and hard line convinced me that it was the right team“, stresses Merckx, who will play a key role in the magenta team's re-building process. "I still belive I can make a positive sporting contribution and am willing to do the hard work.“

Merckx, who has ridden in support of some of the biggest names in cycling during his long career, can draw on his vast experience to act as mentor rider for the team's young guns next season. And his sheer presence and standing in the peloton will also be a major asset to the team going forward: "I hope to be a great benefit to the team on and off the bike. I will support the young riders if they want to use it.”

Targeting the Tour
The eight-time Tour veteran still believes he can be competitive at the Tour de France. "The Tour is still my goal. It involves a lot of stress and hardship, but for me it is still the biggest thing to be a part of it.” He is not willing to put himself under any pressure however. "Next summer is still a long way off, a lot can happen in the meantime, so it's too early to say if I will be back at the Tour", he says.

His full race program is not yet settled, but Sporting director Rolf Aldag has assured him full freedom at the Ardenes classics - his favorite ones. Merckx, however, sees himself as a team player. "I won’t start those races as the only captain. The team will come first. The goal is to produce a winner from among our ranks. And that doesn’t necessarily have to be Axel Merckx,“ says the modest Belgian. He is not short of ambition though, and it is his dream to one day be on top of the podium at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. "I love this race and this part of Belgium, it would be incredible to win there once!“

Olympic bronze medal in Athens
In recent years, Merckx has build up a reputation as a good solid pro who works hard for the team cause. As a so-called "Capitaine de route", he has been the leader's right-hand man, keeping him out of troubles, controlling things in the peloton and organising a chase when required.

Merckx also notched up some top results along the way. In 2000 he was crowned Belgian National road champion; and won a Giro d’Italia stage in the same year. Four years later he achieved another huge sucees; a bronze medal at the Olympic road race in Athens "I am really proud of my Olympic medal, but my greatest win is probably my stage win in the Giro 2000“, says Merckx. Another, more recent fond memory is that of his 2005 Daupiné Libéré stage win: “I was out there for 150 kilometres with two teams chasing me down”, he remembers. “At that time of the year, when everyone is eager to win a ProTour race...it is for sure one of my best memories in this sport.”

More than the “Son of Eddy”
Being the son of a living legend and the biggest name in cycling has been something of a double-edged sword for Axel: “Being Eddy Merckx's son gave me an advantage to turn pro and he also gave me lots of tips.” On the flip-side, the expectations and the famous name piled the pressure on Mercks at the start of his career. "I had a hard time as a junior and amateur, because I was competing against some riders whose only goal was to beat me rather than to win the race. They just wanted to show something to the 'Son of Eddy'“.

Merckx’s breakthough came in 1996, when he placed fourth at the World road race in Lugano. "I felt like I had finally got recognition in the peloton and from the sporting public as a good rider in my own right, and not only as the son of Eddy Merckx."

“Giving something back”
The 34-year old still has the hunger and the legs to prove his ability in what may be his final season. Then it will be time to call it quits. It's the lure of family life, spending more time with his wife and daughter, which will finally coax him off the bike.

Until then, however, the young magenta riders in particular will be able to benefit from Merckx’s experience and personality. "Maybe“, he says, "I can now give something back from what I learnt in this team at the beginning of my career.”

Source: T-Mobile