original: in 1970 , eddy merckx rode himself to the brink of collapse while winning the stage .
simplifications: eddy merckx brinked collapsed himself in 1970 while winning . in 1970 , eddy merckx rode himself to the edge of collapse while winning the stage . in 1970 , eddy merckx rode himself to the point of collapse while winning the stage . in 1970 , eddy merckx rode until he almost fell when he was winning the stage . in 1970 , eddy merckx rode until he almost collapsed while winning the stage . eddy merckx rode himself to the brink of collapse in 1970 while winning the stage . in 1970 , little swirling water current merckx rode himself to the edge of failure while winning the stage . in 1970 , eddy merckx rode himself to the brink of collapse while winning the stage .