Heerlen, Holland Eddy Merckx of Belgium is chaired by admirers after he had become the new king of racing cyclists by winning the world professional road-race title from the best men in the field. Merckx covered the gruelling 265.180kms in 6 hours 44 minutes 42 seconds an average speed of 39.318 kph. Second was Jan Janssen of Holland and third Spain's Ramon Saez. 4th September 1967.