CPH:DOX 2026 to Honor Cycling Legend Eddy Merckx with Documentary Premiere
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – The 2026 edition of CPH:DOX, the Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, will celebrate Belgian cycling icon Eddy Merckx with a Danish premiere screening of Merckx – Race of a Champion. The festival, running March 11-22, will showcase the documentary alongside a discussion featuring the “cafe Eddy” podcast hosts, Bastian Emil goldschmidt and Brian Holm, exploring Merckx’s legacy and the question of whether he is the greatest cyclist of all time.
The film, directed by Christophe Hermans and boris Tilquin, chronicles Merckx’s career, detailing his relentless pursuit of excellence and the physical and mental toll it took.A synopsis describes the documentary as “a film about suffering and willpower,” examining the highs and lows of a career marked by both unparalleled success and controversy.
Following the copenhagen premiere, DOX:Danmark, CPH:DOX’s nationwide festival component, will bring Merckx – Race of a Champion to five cinemas across Denmark, accompanied by discussions with Goldschmidt and Holm.
The documentary utilizes archival footage to illustrate Merckx’s rise to prominence, acknowledging the challenges he faced, including doping allegations, crashes, and periods of public disapproval. According to a synopsis, “When he triumphed, he united Belgium. When he lost,the whole nation turned its back on him.” Merckx earned the nickname “the Cannibal” for his competitive drive, a trait that concurrently inspired admiration and fueled jealousy.
CPH:DOX welcomed over 150,000 attendees in 2025. organizers revealed on Thursday that the full 2026 program, to be unveiled in February, will feature documentaries offering diverse perspectives: ”True to tradition, the program will be packed with documentaries that shed light on the world we live in, seen from scientific, artistic, power-critical, human, young, experienced, unshakeable, fantastically funny, and completely absurd perspectives.”
