Cycling legend ?Eddy Merckx, who was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Belgium, is now reported to be recovering.

Merckx, a five-time?Tour de France?winner, was injured Sunday during a bike outing with friends and taken to hospital in Dendermonde.

Though there were no official words from the hospital staff,?former Anderlecht footballer Paul Van Himst and a long-time friend of Merckx had given a few assuring words on the legendary cyclist.

?I contacted his wife Claudine yesterday. She said he is doing well given the circumstances,? he had told local television.

AFP has now reported that Merckx is now out of ICU and is being treated.

Merckx is widely regarded as the most successful cyclist of all time, winning the Tour de France and the Giro d?Italia five times, as well as 19 Monuments in a career that ran from 1965 to 1977.

He worked with Tour de France organisers until 2017 and his legacy was celebrated at the Grand Depart of this year?s Tour de France in Brussels, on the 50th anniversary of his first yellow jersey.

The social media community wished a speed recovery to Merckx, who has turned 74 in June.