Editing Eddy Merckx (section)

====1976: A record seventh Milan–San Remo====
He opened his 1976 season with his record seventh victory in Milan–San Remo.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=269}} He followed with a victory in the Catalan Week, but suffered a crash in the final stage when a spectator's bag caught his handlebars, injuring his elbow.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=269}} This injury plagued his performance throughout the spring classic season.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=269}} He entered the [[1976 Giro d'Italia|Giro d'Italia]] but failed to win a stage for the first time in his career.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=269}} He finished the race in eighth overall while battling a saddle boil throughout the race.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=269}} Following the Giro's conclusion Merckx announced that he and his team Molteni would not take part in the [[1976 Tour de France|Tour de France]].{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=270}} He took part in the men's road race at the [[1976 UCI Road World Championships|UCI Road World Championships]] and finished in fifth position.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=270}} He ended his season in October after racing for most of August.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=270}} He failed to win the [[Super Prestige Pernod International]], a competition where riders were awarded points for their placements in certain professional races, for the first time since 1968.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=270}} In the first two months of his off-season, Merckx spent the majority of his time lying down.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=270}} Molteni ended their sponsorship at the end of the season.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=270}}