The pennants, scarves, plates & certficates - 15
ITEM N°546
MICHAUD Jacques (F)
(11.07.1951)
His ‘Rush Talbot’ classification pennant from the 1981 Tour de France
Jacques Michaud was a professional cyclist from 1979 to 1984. A strong all-rounder and a good climber, he competed in five consecutive editions of the Tour de France.
In 1981, Jacques Michaud competed in the Tour de France as part of the SEM–France Loire–Campagnolo team. He achieved one of his best results in a Grand Tour, finishing 23rd in the general classification, 50 minutes and 23 seconds behind the winner, Bernard Hinault.
The pennant shown here relates to the ‘Rush Talbot’ classification, the name given at the time to the intermediate sprint classification in the Tour de France. These ‘rushes’ were contested during the stages, at specific points along the route. The first three riders to cross the line at each sprint were awarded eight, five and three points respectively. Some stages also awarded time bonuses of twelve, eight and four seconds, which encouraged attacks and livened up the race well before the finish.
Made from blue satin fabric and edged with gold braid, the item takes the traditional form of the ceremonial pennants awarded on the Tour. It bears witness to the importance of the numerous secondary classifications supported by the Tour de France’s commercial partners. This pennant comes directly from Jacques Michaud, as attested by his handwritten letter dated in Grenoble in 2021. It was among the personal mementoes from his participation in the Tour de France that he passed on to Noël Grégoire. However, the item should not be presented as the trophy awarded to the overall winner of this classification: in 1981, the general classification for intermediate sprints was won by Freddy Maertens. It may correspond to an award presented during the race, a one-off success in a sprint, or a ceremonial memento kept by the rider.
After his racing career, he went on to work as a sports director for several professional teams.
This pennant is a valuable testament to the intermediate sprints and promotional prizes that helped to liven up the daily action of the Tour de France in the early 1980s.
ITEM N° 470
NEVENS Jan (B)
(26.08.1958)
His winner’s pennant from the 4th stage of the 1991 Tour de Suisse
Born on 26 August 1958 in Ninove, East Flanders, Jan Nevens was a professional cyclist from 1980 to 1995. Small in stature but particularly tenacious, he distinguished himself as a solid climber and a formidable stage winner.
On 22 June 1991, riding for the Lotto–Super Club team, Jan Nevens won the fourth stage of the Tour de Suisse, contested between Locarno and Altdorf over a distance of 176.5 kilometres. After 4 hours 28 minutes 33 seconds of racing, the Belgian finished ahead of the Mexican Miguel Arroyo. The American Andrew Hampsten took third place, three seconds behind, whilst the other contenders were nearly three minutes adrift. This victory highlighted Jan Nevens’s endurance and climbing abilities.
The pennant shown here commemorates this stage victory. Made from white fabric and edged with a black and white cord, it bears the ‘Erdgas’ logo – the German term for natural gas – as well as the words ‘Tour de Suisse’. The graphic motif ‘1 + a leaf = Erdgas’ evokes a promotional campaign linking this energy source to nature. The pennant thus bears witness to the presence of commercial partners at the official ceremonies of the Tour de Suisse.
His list of achievements also includes the 1988 Tour Méditerranéen and a stage of the 1986 Tour de Romandie. He competed in eight Tours de France and secured his most prestigious victory on 12 July 1992, winning the eighth stage of the Tour de France in Koblenz.
The photographs show Jan Nevens wearing the Lotto team jersey. The one on the right captures the champion raising his arms after a victory, an image emblematic of his attacking style and his long career.
This pennant is a valuable memento of Jan Nevens’ victory between Locarno and Altdorf during the 55th Tour de Suisse.
ITEM N° 219
NIJDAM Jelle (NL)
(16.08.1963)
His pennant for the Best Time Trial Trophy, won during the prologue of the 1987 Tour de France in West Berlin
Born on 16 August 1963 in Zundert, the Netherlands, Jelle Nijdam was one of the finest time-trialists and prologue specialists of his generation. The son of former world pursuit champion Henk Nijdam, he enjoyed a brilliant professional career from 1984 to 1996.
On 1 July 1987, the 74th Tour de France set off from West Berlin, which was then separated from East Berlin by the Wall. This exceptional Grand Départ celebrated the 750th anniversary of the city’s foundation.
The prologue consisted of a 6.1-kilometre individual time trial routed around the Reichstag building. Jelle Nijdam, aged 23 and a member of the Superconfex–Kwantum–Yoko team, set the fastest time of 7 minutes 06 seconds, at an average speed of 51.549 km/h.
The pennant shown here was awarded to him as the winner of the Best Time Trial Trophy. It recognised the rider who set the benchmark time in this individual time trial. Made from white satin fabric and edged with gold braid, the pennant bears the logos of La Redoute and 48 H Chrono, partners associated with this award, as well as the inscription ‘Tour de France 1987’. This ceremonial item is directly linked to Jelle Nijdam’s victory in the prologue. It therefore serves as a tangible memento of his first success in the Tour de France and his claim to the yellow jersey.
An excellent time-trialist, but also a formidable attacker in the final kilometres, Jelle Nijdam won six stages of the Tour de France between 1987 and 1991. He also triumphed in several major races, notably the Amstel Gold Race in 1988, Paris–Tours and Paris–Brussels in 1989.
The photograph at the top left shows Jelle Nijdam wearing the yellow jersey after his victory in Berlin
This pennant is a precious memento of the West Berlin prologue and the time trial feat that brought Jelle Nijdam to the attention of the wider international public.
