The pennants, scarves, plates & certficates - 12
ITEM N°471
GUALAZZINI Ercole (I) (22.06.1944)
His winner’s pennant from the first stage of the 1974 Tour de France
Ercole Gualazzini was one of the most consistent Italian sprinters of the 1960s and 1970s. A professional from 1966 to 1978, he stood out for his speed, his positioning and his ability to hold his own in breakaways.
He won stages in all three Grand Tours: the Vuelta a España, the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. He competed in four editions of the Tour de France, securing two stage victories, in 1972 and 1974.
On 28 June 1974, riding for the Brooklyn team, he won the first stage of the Tour de France, a 144-kilometre route between Brest and Saint-Pol-de-Léon. He finished one second ahead of Joseph Bruyère and four seconds ahead of Herman Van Springel.
The item on display is the winner’s pennant presented to Ercole Gualazzini on the occasion of this victory. Made from red and blue satin fabric, it bears the inscriptions ‘Tour de France 1974’, ‘Brest – Saint-Pol-de-Léon – Roscoff’, as well as the names of L’Équipe and Le Parisien.
The creases, patina and partial fading of the gold lettering bear witness to the age of this item. Preserved in its original condition, the pennant evokes the ceremonial awards presented to stage winners of the Tour de France.
The handwritten letter shown in the top left-hand corner was sent by Ercole Gualazzini to Noël Grégoire in 2015. In it, the Italian cyclist recalls his memories of the 1974 Tour de France and personally oversees the handover of this item to the collection.
The portrait shows Ercole Gualazzini several decades after his racing career. The archive photograph shows him in Brooklyn’s colours, crossing the finish line with his arms raised – a symbolic image of his many victories.
Displayed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this pennant commemorates Ercole Gualazzini’s victory in the first stage of the 1974 Tour de France, between Brest and Saint-Pol-de-Léon.
ITEM N° 470
GUALAZZINI Ercole (I)
(22.06.1944)
His ‘Ruban Bleu’ pennant, won at the 1974 Tour de France
Ercole Gualazzini was one of the most consistent Italian sprinters of his generation. A professional from 1966 to 1978, he stood out for his speed, his positioning and his ability to capitalise on opportunities in closely contested finishes. During his career, he won stages in all three Grand Tours: the Vuelta a España, the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France. This achievement is a testament to his remarkable consistency at the very highest level of international cycling.
On 28 June 1974, riding for the Brooklyn team, he won the first stage of the Tour de France, a 144-kilometre route between Brest and Saint-Pol-de-Léon. He finished one second ahead of Joseph Bruyère and four seconds ahead of Herman Van Springel.
The Ruban Bleu was a supplementary award given to the rider who achieved the best average speed over a stage of the Tour. It thus recognised a particularly outstanding display of speed, independently of the major official classifications such as the general classification or the points classification. The item on display is the Ruban Bleu pennant won by Ercole Gualazzini during the 1974 Tour de France. Made from white satin fabric and edged with gold braid, it bears the inscriptions ‘Ruban Bleu’, ‘V-8’, ‘Cocktail de légumes’ and ‘Tour de France 1974’. The ‘V-8’ inscription refers to the commercial partner associated with this award. A handwritten signature on the pennant reinforces the personal and historical significance of this item. The creases, slight irregularities and patina of the fabric bear witness to its age. Preserved in its original condition, this pennant evokes the many promotional and honorary awards presented to riders during the Tour de France.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this pennant preserves the memory of the Blue Ribbon won by Ercole Gualazzini during the 1974 Tour de France and bears witness to his remarkable speed.
*** Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) ***
ITEM N° 433
HOBAN Barry (G.-B.)
(05.02.1940 – 19.04.2025)
His winner’s pennant from the 1974 Tour de France International Teams’ Challenge
Originally from Wakefield, Yorkshire, Barry Hoban was one of the pioneers of British cycling on the continent. A professional from 1964 to 1980, he distinguished himself primarily through his sprinting ability, his stamina and his remarkable racing instinct.
Barry Hoban took part in twelve editions of the Tour de France, finishing eleven of them. Between 1967 and 1975, he won eight stages of the Tour, setting a British record that remained unbroken for several decades. The year 1974 was one of the most brilliant of his career. Riding for the Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson team, he won Gent–Wevelgem ahead of Eddy Merckx and Roger De Vlaeminck. In the Tour de France, he won the stage from Avignon to Montpellier, finished third in the individual points classification and won the ‘hot spots’ classification.
The item on display is the pennant from the ‘Le Coq Sportif’ International Challenge, won by the Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson team during the 1974 Tour de France. This team points classification was separate from the overall team time classification, which was won that year by the Spanish Kas–Kaskol team. Barry Hoban contributed to this team success alongside his teammates Raymond Poulidor, Gerben Karstens, Christian Bourreau, Alain Santy, Jean-Pierre Danguillaume, Raymond Martin, Michel Périn, Régis Ovion and Claude Tollet. Made from white satin fabric and edged with gold braid, the pennant bears the inscriptions ‘Challenge international’, ‘Le Coq Sportif’ and ‘Tour de France 1974’. The famous emblem of the French kit manufacturer occupies the centre of the pennant.
The top photograph, autographed by Barry Hoban, shows him winning Ghent–Wevelgem in 1974. The bottom photograph shows Barry Hoban alongside Noël Grégoire. This encounter lends a personal touch to the collection and bears witness to the ties forged with the British champion in the pursuit of preserving cycling history.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this pennant commemorates Barry Hoban’s remarkable 1974 Tour de France and the collective victory of the Gan–Mercier–Hutchinson team in the International Team Challenge.
