The jerseys - 66
ITEM N° 264
ROSIERS Roger (B)
(26.11.1946)
His 1972 Tour de Luxembourg winner’s jersey
Born on 26 November 1946 in Vremde, in the province of Antwerp, Roger Rosiers was a Belgian professional cyclist from 1967 to 1980. Powerful and with great stamina, he excelled particularly in the classics, where his endurance and attacking style worked wonders.
In his very first professional season, he won the Flèche Brabançonne in 1967. He went on to add the Grand Prix Flandria in 1968 and the Nokere Koerse in 1969 to his list of victories, confirming his qualities on the demanding roads of the Belgian racing calendar. In 1970, riding for the Bic team, Roger Rosiers won a stage of the Tour of Spain. The following year, he secured the most prestigious victory of his career by winning Paris–Roubaix.
On 18 April 1971, he broke away from his rivals in the final stages of the ‘Queen of the Classics’ and rode solo into the Roubaix velodrome. This victory, achieved after a particularly fast race, secured his place amongst the great Belgian specialists on the cobbled sections.
In June 1972, Roger Rosiers took part in the Tour de Luxembourg with the Bic team. He won the first stage, a race of nearly 200 kilometres between Luxembourg and Esch-sur-Alzette, and took the lead in the general classification. He then held onto his lead throughout the race, despite attacks from his rivals and the final time trial. He won the general classification, finishing sixteen seconds ahead of his compatriot Paul Aerts and forty-five seconds ahead of the British rider Barry Hoban. Roger Rosiers further added to his list of honours by winning the Grand Prix d’Isbergues in 1973 and the Three Days of La Panne in 1977.
The item on display is the distinctive jersey worn by Roger Rosiers as leader and winner of the 1972 Tour de Luxembourg.
Displayed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey serves as a memento of Roger Rosiers’ victory in the 1972 Tour of Luxembourg. Accompanied by photographs of the rider and commemorating one of the major successes of his career, it stands as a valuable testament to Belgian cycling in the 1970s.
ITEM N° 265
RUÉ Gérard (F)
(07.07.1965)
His leader’s jersey from the 1988 Tour de la Communauté économique européenne
Born on 7 July 1965 in Romillé, in the department of Ille-et-Vilaine, Gérard Rué is a French cyclist who turned professional in 1987 and retired in 1997. A well-rounded and consistent rider, he performed well in both stage races and hilly classics.
He began his professional career riding for the Système U team, managed by Cyrille Guimard. In 1987, he won the Duo Normand alongside Thierry Marie and played a part in his team’s victory in the prologue of the Tour of the European Economic Community.
In 1988, Gérard Rué returned to this race, which took place from 9 to 18 September across several European countries. Following the team time trial on the second stage, he took the lead in the general classification and donned the blue leader’s jersey. Rué held onto this top spot for most of the race. He only relinquished the lead at the end of the final individual time trial, held in Luxembourg, to his team-mate Laurent Fignon. He ultimately finished second in the general classification, 1 minute and 4 seconds behind the winner.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey serves as a reminder of the nine days Gérard Rué spent at the head of the 1988 Tour de la C.E.E. It also marks the emergence of a rider who would go on to become both an accomplished winner and an essential team-mate to several great champions. The photograph accompanying the exhibit also shows Gérard Rué with Jean-François GREGOIRE during the 1993 Liège–Bastogne–Liège. It adds a personal touch to this display and bears witness to the close bond between riders and cycling enthusiasts.
ITEM N°266
SAMYN José (F)
(11.05.1946 – 30.08.1969)
His 1965 French Military Champion’s jersey
Born on 11 May 1946 in Quiévrain, Belgium, to a French father and a Belgian mother, José Samyn was a French cyclist whose career – as promising as it was brief – left a profound mark on cycling in the late 1960s. He became a French national in 1964. Accustomed from a young age to races held in Belgium and northern France, he developed excellent sprinting skills. Fast, combative and resilient, he won numerous races at amateur level.
In 1965, whilst completing his military service, José Samyn became the French military road champion. This title was one of the first major successes of his career and entitled him to wear the tricolour jersey shown here.
In his first professional season, he won the Grand Prix de Denain and took part in the Tour de France as part of the ‘Bleuets’ team. As the youngest rider in the race, he won the eleventh stage between Briançon and Digne-les-Bains and finished seventeenth overall. In 1968, José Samyn won a stage of Paris–Nice, the Circuit du Port de Dunkerque and the first edition of the Grand Prix de Fayt-le-Franc. He also finished second in the Flèche Wallonne, beaten only in the sprint by the Belgian champion Rik Van Looy. After joining the Bic team in 1969, he won the general classification of the Tour de l’Oise. On 25 August 1969, during a criterium held in Zingem, Belgium, José Samyn collided with a spectator who was crossing the road and suffered a heavy fall. Having sustained serious head injuries, he died a few days later, on 30 August 1969, aged 23.
In tribute to his memory, the Grand Prix de Fayt-le-Franc, the first edition of which he had won, was renamed ‘Le Samyn’ from 1970 onwards. This classic race remains to this day one of the key events of the early season in Wallonia.
The item on display is the jersey worn by José Samyn after winning the French Military Championship in 1965.
Displayed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey preserves the memory of José Samyn’s early days and his first major national title. It bears witness to the journey of a young champion whose untimely death cut short a career that promised the very greatest successes.
