--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I agree it is the most important, but…" description: "\"I agree it is the most important, but cycling is not only about Tour. If everybody thinks like Armstrong, there will be only one race.\" — Eddy Merckx" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/eddy-merckx-7014_everybody_i-agree-it-is-the-most-important-but-cyc_1597005.jpg" --- # I agree it is the most important, but cycling is not only… ![“I agree it is the most important, but cycling is not only about Tour. If everybody thinks like Armstrong, there will be only one race.” quote by Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/eddy-merckx-7014_everybody_i-agree-it-is-the-most-important-but-cyc_1597005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/eddy-merckx-7014_everybody_i-agree-it-is-the-most-important-but-cyc_1597005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d8a/eddy-merckx-7014_everybody_i-agree-it-is-the-most-important-but-cyc_1597005.jpg) > “I agree it is the most important, but cycling is not only about Tour. If everybody thinks like Armstrong, there will be only one race.” [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success in sport isn’t limited to one event; diverse approaches enrich competition. **In simple terms:** Not all races are the same. Key Takeaway Embrace varied goals in sport. Themes competition diversity motivation Mood enthusiastic reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - team sports - personal development - goal setting Key Concepts cycling culture personal ambition Questions to Reflect On - What unique aspects can you bring to your sport? - How does variety improve performance? A Different Perspective Focusing only on one model can stifle innovation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cycling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycling/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) ## Related quotes > [The only event that counts is the Tour, it's the only race that all the media go to. It's far more important than it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/the-only-event-that-counts-is-the-tour-it-s-the-only-race-that-all/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [The Tour is the No. 1 event in cycling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/the-tour-is-the-no-1-event-in-cycling/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I do not plan to go on cycling until I am completely tired and finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-do-not-plan-to-go-on-cycling-until-i-am-completely-tired-and/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Don't buy upgrades, ride up grades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/don-t-buy-upgrades-ride-up-grades/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I do not want to continue cycling until I am 35. I want to make something else out of my life, too. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-do-not-want-to-continue-cycling-until-i-am-35-i-want-to-make/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Cyclists live with pain. If you can't handle it you will win nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/cyclists-live-with-pain-if-you-can-t-handle-it-you-will-win-nothing/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I won! I won! I don't have to go to school anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-won-i-won-i-don-t-have-to-go-to-school-anymore/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I've never been that bothered by numbers; the history of cycling evolves and follows its own course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-ve-never-been-that-bothered-by-numbers-the-history-of-cycling/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Cycling always receives a bad name. It's always cycling that's attacked and other sports are never attacked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/cycling-always-receives-a-bad-name-it-s-always-cycling-that-s/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I've won. Hurray! I don't have to go to school any more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-ve-won-hurray-i-don-t-have-to-go-to-school-any-more/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Cycling is a sport of the people. How many people in the world have never been on a bike? Not many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/cycling-is-a-sport-of-the-people-how-many-people-in-the-world-have/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Miracles can sometimes happen in cycling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/miracles-can-sometimes-happen-in-cycling/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Cycling is a good school for life. It makes you hard and gives you ambition, but you can never say you've arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/cycling-is-a-good-school-for-life-it-makes-you-hard-and-gives-you/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-stand-and-rejoice-every-time-i-see-a-woman-ride-by-on-a-wheel-the/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [I like to sit down, relax, have a cup of coffee on the terrace and read a book. I like to travel the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-vos/i-like-to-sit-down-relax-have-a-cup-of-coffee-on-the-terrace-and-read/) [Marianne Vos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-vos/) ## More by Eddy Merckx > [You need talent as a rider and I think I had that in my genes. But I think I also had a talent for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/you-need-talent-as-a-rider-and-i-think-i-had-that-in-my-genes-but-i/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Absolutely, in stage races, Froome is better than Eddy Merckx. Maybe he can win five, six Tours de France, but my focus wasn't only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/absolutely-in-stage-races-froome-is-better-than-eddy-merckx-maybe-he/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I didn't win any bunch sprints. But I won in solo breakaways, I won time-trials, I won in the mountains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-didn-t-win-any-bunch-sprints-but-i-won-in-solo-breakaways-i-won/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I always had and I still have that special desire in me to be the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-always-had-and-i-still-have-that-special-desire-in-me-to-be-the-best/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I'm not saying that every time I race I go to the very limit of my strength. But when the opportunity appears I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-m-not-saying-that-every-time-i-race-i-go-to-the-very-limit-of-my/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I can tell you I preferred my era. Yes, they make much more money now but I preferred my cycling. The passion for racing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-can-tell-you-i-preferred-my-era-yes-they-make-much-more-money-now/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I sleep very well, thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-sleep-very-well-thank-you/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Doping has to be fought, cheats must be unmasked, abuse should be punished but all this should remain human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/doping-has-to-be-fought-cheats-must-be-unmasked-abuse-should-be/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [It's difficult for him, carrying the name. But Axel is doing what he likes to do, and for me, if Axel's happy, I'm also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/it-s-difficult-for-him-carrying-the-name-but-axel-is-doing-what-he/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Cycling is a good school for life. It makes you hard and gives you ambition, but you can never say you've arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/cycling-is-a-good-school-for-life-it-makes-you-hard-and-gives-you/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [The most important thing is that you're the best of your generation and I can say that I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/the-most-important-thing-is-that-you-re-the-best-of-your-generation/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Sometimes it's strange being me. I travel the world meeting people, I'm surrounded with friends and my life is full, but all the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/sometimes-it-s-strange-being-me-i-travel-the-world-meeting-people-i-m/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I think I was three or four when I first rode and four when I first crashed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-think-i-was-three-or-four-when-i-first-rode-and-four-when-i-first/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [No sport is 100 per cent clean - I think 95 per cent of the cyclists are clean. In the normal world, not everybody is clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/no-sport-is-100-per-cent-clean-i-think-95-per-cent-of-the-cyclists/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Miracles can sometimes happen in cycling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/miracles-can-sometimes-happen-in-cycling/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) [Explore all 95 Eddy Merckx quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) ## More Cycling quotes > [I like to sit down, relax, have a cup of coffee on the terrace and read a book. I like to travel the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-vos/i-like-to-sit-down-relax-have-a-cup-of-coffee-on-the-terrace-and-read/) [Marianne Vos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-vos/) > [I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel...the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-b-anthony/i-stand-and-rejoice-every-time-i-see-a-woman-ride-by-on-a-wheel-the/) [Susan B. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-b-anthony/) > [“The range and diversity of...places in England with character or charm is often overlooked. A bicycle more than anything else helps one both to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-alderson/the-range-and-diversity-of-places-in-england-with-character-or-charm/) Frederick Alderson > [I've always been a keen cyclist, I'm very close to the world of cycling. Not just cycling really - also walking, adventures, being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-smith/i-ve-always-been-a-keen-cyclist-i-m-very-close-to-the-world-of/) [Paul Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-smith/) > [My life, since I was 12-years-old, has revolved around some sort of sport, mainly cycling, so when I'm unable to ride my bike I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-backstedt/my-life-since-i-was-12-years-old-has-revolved-around-some-sort-of/) [Magnus Backstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-backstedt/) > [I love cycling, I do it all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-canseco/i-love-cycling-i-do-it-all-the-time/) [Josie Canseco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-canseco/) > [At that age, it's one of the worse things in the world to wake up and not see your bike where you left it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/at-that-age-it-s-one-of-the-worse-things-in-the-world-to-wake-up-and/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [Road cycling, especially up mountains. It's the heady mixture of endorphins and aesthetics that I love. My wife does it too, and being with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-kemp/road-cycling-especially-up-mountains-it-s-the-heady-mixture-of/) [Gary Kemp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-kemp/) > [Ive had so many experiences in cycling, but in some ways I have nothing left to prove. I have achieved more than I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clara-hughes/ive-had-so-many-experiences-in-cycling-but-in-some-ways-i-have/) [Clara Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clara-hughes/) > [Cycling has been my passion throughout my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fogel/cycling-has-been-my-passion-throughout-my-life/) [Bryan Fogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fogel/) > [If you knew the pain I had in my legs...what suffering! I couldn't wait to get to the hotel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-voeckler/if-you-knew-the-pain-i-had-in-my-legs-what-suffering-i-couldn-t-wait/) Thomas Voeckler > [With cycling, I can still be active and compete, and ultimately, that's what I love to do, to be competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oksana-masters/with-cycling-i-can-still-be-active-and-compete-and-ultimately-that-s/) [Oksana Masters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oksana-masters/) > [I love indoor cycling - it has made a really big difference. I feel a lot skinnier. It's kind of the ultimate cardio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bosworth/i-love-indoor-cycling-it-has-made-a-really-big-difference-i-feel-a/) [Kate Bosworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bosworth/) > [My buddy lost about 100 pounds cycling. He took me on a 31-mile loop. I was hooked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erika-christensen/my-buddy-lost-about-100-pounds-cycling-he-took-me-on-a-31-mile-loop-i/) [Erika Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erika-christensen/) > [Cycling is not impactful. Its just like when you are injured, have a knee surgery or something, there are so many things that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-armstrong/cycling-is-not-impactful-its-just-like-when-you-are-injured-have-a/) [Kristin Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-armstrong/) [Browse all 345 Cycling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cycling/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I agree it is the most important, but cycling is not only about Tour. 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