Women's cycling - 9
PIECE N° 622
PEZZO Paola (I)
(08.01.1969)
Her rainbow jersey as the world champion of mountain biking worn in 1994
An iconic figure in Italian mountain biking, Paola Pezzo discovered this discipline at the end of the 1980s. Her offensive style, technical skills, and power quickly made her one of the world's best cross-country specialists.
In 1993, she surprised everyone by winning her first world championship title in Métabief. She repeated this feat in 1997 at Château-d’Œx and secured the overall World Cup ranking the same year.
Paola Pezzo also enters Olympic history by winning the first women's mountain biking event, held in Atlanta in 1996. Four years later, she defended her title in Sydney. With two Olympic gold medals and two world titles, she remains one of the greatest champions in the history of mountain biking.
This piece is a rainbow jersey worn by Paola Pezzo during the 1994 season, after her first world title won the previous year. A handwritten dedication from Paola Pezzo, addressed to the collector, adds an extra personal dimension to this piece. This jersey combines a double Olympic champion, her first world title, and an iconic team from the early days of professional mountain biking.
PIECE N° 415
PUCINSKAÏTE Edita (LIT)
(27.11.1975)
Her rainbow jersey as the 1999 road world champion
Born in Naujoji Akmenė, Edita Pucinskaite is among the greatest Lithuanian cyclists. An excellent climber and stage race specialist, she also excels in championships and major classics.
She won the International Women's Tour in 1998, then became the world road champion in 1999. She also won the silver medal at the World Championships in 2001 and participated in three editions of the Olympic Games.
Her record also includes two victories in the Women's Giro d'Italia, in 2006 and 2007, as well as numerous successes in major international competitions.
This rainbow jersey was worn by Edita Pucinskaite after her victory at the 1999 World Road Championships. The Women's Road World Championship is held on October 9, 1999, in Verona, Italy. Edita Pucinskaite attacks in the final and crosses the finish line alone after 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 49 seconds of racing. She finishes 18 seconds ahead of the Australian Anna Wilson and her compatriot Diana Žiliūtė.
Presented in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey is a remarkable souvenir of the 1999 World Championship in Verona and the brilliant career of Edita Pucinskaite.
PIECE N° 623
RAYER Églantine (F)
(12.06.2004)
His jersey and shorts from the dsm-firmenich PostNL team worn at the beginning of the 2024 season
Born in La Ferté Macé, Normandy, Églantine Rayer quickly emerged as one of the great hopes of French women's cycling. Punchy and a climber, she also stands out in the time trial event.
In 2021, she became the junior French champion in the road race and the time trial. The following season, she won the Junior European Road Championship, finished second in the European Time Trial, and earned the silver medal at the Junior Road World Championship in Wollongong.
She joined the WorldTour in 2023 under the colours of the DSM team and became the French under-23 time trial champion the same year.
This set consists of a jersey and shorts from the dsm-firmenich PostNL team worn by Églantine Rayer at the beginning of the 2024 season. This outfit is a testament to the early professional seasons of a champion revealed by her exceptional results in the junior categories.
Presented in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this set constitutes a precious memory of the 2024 season and the debut at the highest level of Églantine Rayer.
