Eddy Merckx spoke to Belgian media about Monday's crash and his recovery plan.

Merckx, who will turn 80 next year, was riding west of Mechelen on Monday when his rear wheel slipped at a railroad crossing and he fell. Merckx gave details of the fall to VTM Nieuws.

“I was riding my bike and all of a sudden it started raining lightly. 'I slipped on the rear wheel. I fell on my right thigh and immediately knew it was a fracture.”

“I was lying on the tracks and panicked. I signaled, but at first no one came to help me. I couldn't get up.”

The five-time Tour de France winner, considered by many to be the greatest cyclist of all time, said he was eventually saved by a motorcyclist and two others. Lying on the tracks, he was worried that an oncoming train might be coming.

“The barriers were open then, you know. But you never know if it's going to close all of a sudden,” he said.

According to a report released by AZ St. Elizabeth Helenthals Hospital, Merckx had a displaced fracture of his right hip. He underwent total hip replacement surgery on Tuesday, and medical staff said he is “expected to make a full recovery.”

“The surgery went very smoothly and a full recovery is expected. Eddy Merckx will now stay at the hospital at least one night to recover from the surgery,” said a statement from the hospital, which was published by HLN.

Merckx won a total of 11 Grand Tour victories during the 1960s and 1970s: five at the Tour de France, five at the Giro d'Italia, and one at the Vuelta a España. He also won five Monument Classics and three road world championships before retiring in 1978.

In April of this year, Merckx was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery for stomach pain and had part of his intestine removed due to an intestinal obstruction.

Three months later, Merckx was back in the spotlight when Mark Cavendish (Astana Kazakstan) won his 35th Tour de France in Saint Vurba, breaking the record of 34 Tour de France wins.

On Friday, Merckx gave details of his first physiotherapy session and already hopes to return to racing in about three months.

“With crutches I can walk relatively well. 'This morning I went to the physiotherapist for the first time and was able to do a few exercises.'

“I'm slowly building up so I can start cycling again. Because I intend to keep at it. I'm very determined to do that.”

“But I'm not alone anymore. From now on, we'll always be together.”