The water bottles, caps and gloves - 1
ITEM N° 070
CLOSE Alex (B)
(26.11.1921 – 21.10.2008)
The terry-cloth cap he wore during the 1956 Tour de France
A professional cyclist from 1949 to 1959, Alex Close was one of the finest Belgian road cyclists of his generation. He took part in six Tours de France, finishing seventh in 1952 and fourth in 1953. Winner of the Tour of Belgium in 1955, he also won the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré in 1956 and came third in Liège–Bastogne–Liège that same year. Alex Close’s honours list
The cap shown here is believed to have been worn by Alex Close during the 1956 Tour de France, which he finished in seventeenth place. Made from a light-coloured, spongy material, it is adorned on the side with a ribbon in the colours of Belgium.
This unusual item was designed to cope with the particularly gruelling weather conditions faced by the riders. The cap could be dipped in water before being put back on, allowing the cyclist to cool down briefly whilst riding. Its shape and material are testament to the simple yet ingenious solutions employed at a time when technical cooling equipment did not yet exist.
Beyond its unusual appearance, this item evokes the harshness of the Tour in the 1950s and the means available to riders to cope with the heat, the length of the stages and fatigue.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël Grégoire Collections, this rare terry cap preserves the memory of Alex Close and bears witness to the ingenuity once employed to protect champions from the gruelling conditions of the Tour de France.
ITEM N° 075
CLOSE Alex (B)
(26.11.1921 – 21.10.2008)
His Belgian national team cap
Originally from Moignelée, in the province of Namur, Alex Close was one of Belgium’s finest stage race riders during the 1950s. A professional from 1949 to 1959, he was admired for his stamina, consistency and ability as a road racer.
Selected on several occasions to represent Belgium, Alex Close took part in six editions of the Tour de France, from 1952 to 1957. He finished seventh in 1952, fourth in 1953 and ninth in 1955. He also finished thirteenth in the 1952 Giro d’Italia. His list of honours includes, notably, the 1955 Tour of Belgium and the 1956 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré. That latter season was also marked by his third place in Liège–Bastogne–Liège, confirming his prowess in one-day races as well as in major stage races.
The item presented here is a Belgian national team cap worn by Alex Close. Made from light-coloured canvas, it features a badge on the front displaying the three national colours: black, yellow and red. Its simple, functional design is characteristic of cycling kit used during the 1950s.
Signs of wear, slight distortions in the fabric and traces of age bear witness to its use. Before the advent of the modern helmet, the cap was an iconic part of a cyclist’s kit. It provided basic protection from the sun and rain, whilst allowing the team or nation represented to be immediately identified.
Directly associated with a cyclist who ranked amongst the best in the Tour de France, this cap transcends the mere value of a piece of sports kit. It stands as a valuable testament to post-war cycling and to the era when national teams competed in major international events.
Housed in the Noël Grégoire Collections, it serves as a reminder of Alex Close’s career and his time with the Belgian national team.
ITEM N° 088
DELISLE Raymond (F)
(11.03.1943 – 11.08.2013)
Peugeot water bottle awarded for his stage victory at Luchon – 1969 Tour de France
Born in Ancteville, in the Manche department, Raymond Delisle was one of the finest French cyclists of the 1960s and 1970s. A professional from 1965 to 1977, he remained loyal to the Peugeot team for twelve seasons, wearing its famous black-and-white chequered jersey.
Crowned French road champion in 1969, Delisle achieved one of the most iconic feats of his career just a few weeks later. On 14 July, he won the sixteenth stage of the Tour de France between Castelnaudary and Luchon in a solo breakaway. He remains the only French rider to have won a stage of the Tour on France’s national holiday whilst wearing the tricolour jersey of the French champion.
The water bottle shown here is a cream-coloured plastic model bearing the colours of the Peugeot team. It is decorated with a lion standing on a red shield, accompanied by the team’s iconic chequered stripe. Signs of wear and the natural ageing of its surface bear witness to its age.
According to the information accompanying this item, this water bottle is said to have been used by Raymond Delisle during his stage victory at Luchon in 1969. In the absence of any documentation to definitively establish the circumstances of its use, this attribution must, however, be treated with caution.
