The water bottles, caps, musettes and gloves - 5
ITEM N° 721
Water bottle used in the 1955 Tour de France
Official “La Vitelloise” water bottle from the 1955 Tour
This plastic water bottle was used during the 1955 Tour de France. It bears the blue and red emblem of La Vittelloise, a brand of mineral water then associated with the provision of refreshments for riders on the Tour. However, there are no markings to indicate which team or rider this particular bottle was issued to.
Its cylindrical body is topped by two rounded shoulders and a wide neck sealed by a cap. A small strap attaches the cap to the bottle to prevent it from being lost during the race. Its smaller capacity and plastic construction made it lighter and more practical than the older metal models.
The inscription ‘Tour – La Vittelloise – 1955’ allows this item to be directly linked to the 42nd edition of the Tour de France, won by the Frenchman Louison Bobet, who secured his third consecutive victory in the race.
These water bottles were handed out to riders at refreshment points, carried in their musettes or kept in the team cars. Riders could then place them in the bottle cages attached to the frame of their bicycles.
The dirt, scratches, wear and tear on the decoration, and the deterioration of the material bear witness to its age and use. These marks have been preserved, as they are an integral part of the object’s history and authenticity.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël Grégoire Collections, this water bottle is a valuable testament to how riders were supplied with refreshments and to the evolution of cycling equipment in the mid-1950s.
ITEM N° 722
Water bottle used in the 1956 Tour de France
Official ‘La Vittelloise’ water bottle from the 1956 Tour
This plastic water bottle was used during the 1956 Tour de France. It bears the blue and red emblem of La Vittelloise, a brand of mineral water which was then associated with the provision of refreshments for riders on the Tour. However, there are no markings to identify the team or rider to whom this particular bottle was issued.
The bottle has an elongated cylindrical body, topped by two rounded shoulders and a wide neck. A small eyelet on the side was presumably used to secure the cap to prevent it from being lost during the race. This eyelet is no longer present.
The inscription ‘Tour – La Vittelloise – 1956’ allows this item to be directly linked to the 43rd edition of the Tour de France, won by the Frenchman Roger Walkowiak. These water bottles were distributed at refreshment points, placed in the riders’ bags or transported in the team cars before being handed to the riders.
The heavy soiling, scratches, variations in colour and wear to the decoration bear witness to prolonged use. Far from being flaws, these marks form an essential part of the object’s history and reinforce its authenticity.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël Grégoire Collections, this water bottle is a valuable record of how riders were supplied with refreshments and of the practical conditions under which the Tour de France was contested in the mid-1950s.
ITEM N° 723
‘Leroux – Super Chicorée’ promotional water bottle
Featured in the peloton from 1956 to 1962
This plastic water bottle serves as a reminder of the Leroux company’s significant involvement in professional cycling in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Passionate about the sport, the northern French company associated its name with several teams, notably Helyett–Leroux–Hutchinson and Gitane–Géminiani–Leroux.
As there is no date or rider’s name, the exact year this particular water bottle was used cannot be established. However, its shape, design and method of manufacture suggest it was likely produced between the late 1950s and the early 1960s.
The object has a white cylindrical body topped by two rounded shoulders and a wide neck. A piece of cord, still attached to the neck, was probably used to secure the cap – which is now missing – to prevent it from being lost during the race.
A wide orange band bears the inscription ‘LEROUX – Super chicorée’ as well as a slanted depiction of a packet of chicory. This advertisement serves as a reminder that the brand at the time promoted chicory as a drink intended for sportspeople. Leroux sponsored great champions such as Jacques Anquetil, Jean Stablinski, André Darrigade and Tom Simpson.
The numerous scratches, stains, dents and significant wear and tear on the design bear witness to prolonged use. These marks have been deliberately preserved: they form an essential part of the object’s history and authenticity.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël Grégoire Collections, this water bottle is a valuable testament to the close links between advertising, refreshment stops and professional cycling in the post-war period.
