I don't want to cloud the issue on this one as you are probably all a lot more knowledgeable than me but surely this all down to a Walloon/Flemish thing? Merckx is from Brussels, French speaking and pro royalty, Freddy is Flemish. Between these two factions there was nothing better than to beat you in front of your own supporters. The Flemish loved to do over the French speaking riders in the Paris- Brussels remember 1976. Similarly the French speaking Belgium's loved to get a win in the Tour of Flanders. Two different cultures, languages and customs. Roger De Vlaeminck Merckx's bitter rival in the classics was once pictured with Eddy at his breakfast table now this is like the Pope having a knife and fork with Ian Paisley or supping with the devil! Merckx and De Vlaeminck would later unite against Maertens and in the 76 Tour of Flanders, the Gypsy and Freddy Maertens let the winning escape go up the road preferring to loose the prestigious race than risk the other winning. Walter Planckert a Flandrian won. A year later De Vlaeminck wheel sucked Freddy for 60 miles and then beat him in the finishing sprint.
Thats all for now. Keep those wheels spinning, in your memories if not still on the road. Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK.