Editing Eddy Merckx (section)

== Retirement ==
{{Main|Eddy Merckx Cycles}}
{{#invoke:multiple image|
| image1    = EddyMerckxFactoryInMeise.jpg
| width1    = 175
| alt1      = A bike factory
| image2    = 1989 7-Eleven TEAM - Eddy Merckx 1-10.JPG
| width2    = 175
| alt2      = A bicycle
| footer    = [[Eddy Merckx Cycles]] (factory pictured left) opened in 1980 and soon began producing bikes that were used by several professional cycling teams (a 1989 model used by {{UCI team code|MOT|1989}} pictured right) in the last two decades of the 20th century.
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Following his exit from racing, Merckx opened up [[Eddy Merckx Cycles]] on 28 March 1980 in Brussels.{{sfn|Friebe|2012|p=328}} The initial workers that were hired for the factory were trained by Ugo De Rosa, a notable bike maker, before starting.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=286}} The company almost went bankrupt at one point and was also caught up in a tax repayment controversy.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=286}} Merckx would spend time giving input on the models as they were being produced.{{sfn|Friebe|2012|p=328}}{{sfn|Moore|Benson|2013|p=135}} Despite the financial problems the brand became highly regarded and successful, being used by several top-level cycling teams in the 1980s and 1990s.{{sfn|Moore|Benson|2013|p=134}} Merckx stepped down as CEO in 2008 and sold most of his shares,{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=288}} but continued to test the bikes that were created and had some input.{{sfn|Moore|Benson|2013|p=135}} Cycling journalist Sam Dansie believes that Eddy Merckx Cycles has maintained a presence as an elite bicycle due to its adoption of new methods over time.{{sfn|Moore|Benson|2013|p=135}} As of January 2015, the business is still based in Belgium and distributes to over twenty-five countries.<ref name="PM EMC">{{cite web|url=http://pelotonmagazine.com/goods/eddy-merckx-custom-bike-eddy-70/|title=Merckx Masterpiece: The EDDY70 |date=27 January 2015 |work=Peloton|publisher=Move Press|access-date=10 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710220420/http://pelotonmagazine.com/goods/eddy-merckx-custom-bike-eddy-70/|archive-date=10 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Merckx managed the Belgian national team world championships for eleven years, between 1986 and 1996.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=287}} He acted as the race director for the Tour of Flanders for a brief period of time.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=287}} He temporarily sponsored a youth developmental team with CGER Bank, a team that featured his son Axel.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=288}} He helped organize the [[Grand Prix Eddy Merckx]], which started out as an invitation only individual time trial event, later becoming a two-man time trial event.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=288}} The event folded after 2004 due to riders' lack of interest.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=288}}

He played a pivotal role in getting the [[Tour of Qatar]] started in 2002.<ref name="CW TOQ">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/eddy-merckx-takes-pride-in-tour-of-qatar-status-157591|title=How Eddy Merckx put the Middle East on the cycling map|date=14 February 2015|author=Gregor Brown|work=Cycling Weekly|access-date=11 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711135549/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/eddy-merckx-takes-pride-in-tour-of-qatar-status-157591|archive-date=11 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2001 [[Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani]], the former [[Emir]] of [[Qatar]], reached out to Merckx and told him of his interest in starting a bicycle race to show off his country.<ref name="CW TOQ" /> Merckx then contacted then [[Union Cycliste Internationale]] (UCI) president [[Hein Verbruggen]], who checked out Qatar's roads.<ref name="CW TOQ" /> Following a successful inspection, Merckx contacted the [[Amaury Sport Organisation]] about working with him planning the race; they agreed in 2001.<ref name="CW TOQ" /> Merckx officially co-owned the race with Dirk De Pauw and helped organize it until the race was cancelled before the 2017 edition due to financial reasons.<ref name="CW TOQ" /><ref name="CW Q WC">{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/eddy-merckx-rates-tough-qatar-world-champs-course-156553|title=Eddy Merckx rates tough Qatar World Champs course|date=9 February 2015|author=Gregor Brown|work=Cycling Weekly|publisher=IPC Media |access-date=11 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711140607/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/eddy-merckx-rates-tough-qatar-world-champs-course-156553|archive-date=11 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CN ToO Split">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/eddy-merckx-splits-with-aso-in-tour-of-oman-spat/|title=Eddy Merckx splits with ASO in Tour of Oman spat|date=15 November 2017 |website=[[Cycling News]]|access-date=19 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809021121/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/eddy-merckx-splits-with-aso-in-tour-of-oman-spat/|archive-date=9 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, Merckx also helped Qatar secure the right to host the [[2016 UCI Road World Championships]], as well as designing the race route for the road race.<ref name="CW TOQ" /><ref name="CW Q WC" /><ref name="CN ToO Split"/> Merckx briefly co-owned and helped start the [[Tour of Oman]] in 2010.<ref name="TOM">{{cite news|author=John Wilcockson|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/02/news/merckx-pushes-to-renew-tour-of-oman-contract-despite-rider-protest_361628|title=Merckx pushes to renew Tour of Oman contract despite rider protest|date=25 February 2015 |work=VeloNews|publisher=Competitor Group|access-date=14 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702073908/http://velonews.competitor.com/2015/02/news/merckx-pushes-to-renew-tour-of-oman-contract-despite-rider-protest_361628|archive-date=2 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Merckx said later that although he was not racing, he knew would still be involved with the sport "as a bike builder, first in the factory and now as an ambassador."<ref name="CN EMC">{{cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/eddy-merckx-reflects-on-his-career-and-life-on-his-70th-birthday|title=Eddy Merckx reflects on his career and life on his 70th birthday |author=Stephen Farrand|date=19 June 2015 |website=[[Cycling News]]|access-date=19 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710220049/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/eddy-merckx-reflects-on-his-career-and-life-on-his-70th-birthday|archive-date=10 July 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2017, it was announced that Merckx and his partner Dirk De Pauw split with Tour of Oman organizer ASO following an undisclosed dispute.<ref name="CN ToO Split"/>