Complex sentence: During the Tour of Flanders, Merckx's rivals worked together against Merckx to prevent him from winning, and a week later he suffered five flat tires during the Paris-Roubaix.
Split into simpler sentences: During the Tour of Flanders, Merckx's rivals worked against him to prevent him from winning. A week later, he suffered five flat tires during the Paris-Roubaix.