In 1972 Eddy Merckx was at the peak of his powers.

The year was to yield an incredible haul: his second Giro - Tour double, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, la Fleche Wallonne, and his legendary Hour Record. And yet, as the season began, there was rare doubt. Riding in the rainbow jersey, Merckx was out of form and suffering from a broken vertebrae sustained in Paris-Nice. For the first time in over half a decade he started the first Monument of the year as an underdog.

After seven painful hours on the road to Milan, Merckx showed the world the folly of doubting him. He dropped the peloton on the descent of the Poggio and soloed to victory on the Via Roma, raising the five fingers of his right hand to celebrate his fifth Milan-San Remo victory in seven astonishing years.

The Cannibal was still hungry.