The jerseys - 31
ITEM N° 535
GÖLZ Rolf (D)
(29.06.1945)
His 1992 Tour Méditerranéen winner’s jersey
Born in Bad Schussenried, Germany, Rolf Gölz first made his mark on the velodromes. His power and ability to maintain high speeds made him one of the best track cyclists of his generation.
Amateur world champion in the team pursuit in 1983, he won two medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games: silver in the individual pursuit and bronze in the team pursuit with the West German team. Olympedia
After turning professional on the road in 1985, Gölz immediately became German champion. He adapted his track cycling skills perfectly to the classics and small-group finishes. His list of victories includes, notably, the 1987 Zurich Championship, the Flèche Wallonne, Paris–Brussels and Milan–Turin in 1988, as well as a second victory in Milan–Turin in 1989.
He also won two stages of the Tour de France, in 1987 and 1988, and finished fourth in the 1987 Road World Championships.
This item is the leader’s and winner’s jersey from the 1992 Tour Méditerranéen, worn by Rolf Gölz.
Held from 11 to 16 February, the 1992 Tour Méditerranéen comprised eight stages between Perpignan and Marseille. Rolf Gölz immediately put himself in a strong position by winning the first stage between Perpignan and Béziers. He then triumphed in the fifth stage, which finished at Mont Faron. Thanks to these two victories and his consistent performance, the German rider won the general classification ahead of the Frenchmen Ronan Pensec and Laurent Madouas.
This jersey brings together an Olympic medallist, an iconic Italian team and a significant victory in an early-season French race.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, it stands as a valuable testament to Rolf Gölz’s victory in the 1992 Tour Méditerranéen and to the career of a champion capable of excelling on both the track and the road.
ITEM N° 132
GRACZYK Jean (F) (26.05.1933 – 27.06.2004)
His Margnat–Paloma jersey, worn in 1963 and 1964
Born in Neuvy-sur-Barangeon, in the Cher department, to Polish parents, Jean Graczyk became a naturalised French citizen in 1949. Nicknamed ‘Popof’, he stood out for his speed, his attacking style and his consistent performance in sprint finishes.
Before turning professional, he won the silver medal in the team pursuit at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games, alongside René Bianchi, Jean-Claude Lecante and Michel Vermeulin. Olympedia
On the road, Graczyk became one of the finest French sprinters of his era. He won Paris–Nice in 1959, the Critérium National in 1960 and five stages of the Vuelta a España.
His favourite race, however, remained the Tour de France. He won five stages there and claimed the points classification twice, in 1958 and 1960. During the 1960 edition, he won four stages, including the final stage in Paris.
This item is a jersey from the French Margnat–Paloma team worn by Jean Graczyk during the 1963 and 1964 seasons.
Founded in 1960, the Margnat team was sponsored by a Marseille-based wine company. It later partnered with Paloma, a French bicycle manufacturer based in Saint-Ouen, as well as Dunlop.
This jersey brings together a two-time winner of the Tour de France points classification and a French team typical of 1960s cycling.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey is a valuable record of Jean Graczyk’s 1963 and 1964 seasons and serves as a reminder of the career of one of the finest French sprinters of his era.
Historical note: biographical and Olympic sources give 27 June 2004 as the date of Jean Graczyk’s death, not 24 June as indicated on the photomontage.
ITEM N° 469
GUALAZZINI Ercole (I)
(22.06.1944)
His white combined classification jersey worn at the 1974 Tour de France
Born in San Secondo Parmense, in the province of Parma, Ercole Gualazzini was an Italian professional road cyclist and sprinter in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Quick in bunch sprints, he was also adept at slipping into breakaways and working in support of his team leaders. This versatility enabled him to win stages in all three Grand Tours: one stage of the Vuelta, four of the Giro d’Italia and two of the Tour de France.
His list of achievements also includes the general classification of the 1970 Tour d’Indre-et-Loire and the Sassari–Cagliari race in 1977. Although not a major specialist in general classifications, Gualazzini built a solid career thanks to his burst of speed and his racing instinct.
This white combined classification jersey was worn by Ercole Gualazzini during the 1974 Tour de France.
Several old advertising inscriptions, now greatly faded, remain visible as yellowed patches. This deterioration bears witness to the garment’s age and the fragility of the marking processes used at that time. The jersey bears Ercole Gualazzini’s signature. It is accompanied by a handwritten letter dated 10 August 2010 in which the rider confirms that this is one of his jerseys from the 1974 Tour de France.
Ercole Gualazzini started the 1974 Tour riding for the Brooklyn team. Right from the first stage, a 144-kilometre route between Brest and Saint-Pol-de-Léon, the Italian won the sprint. This victory secured him a prominent position in the various secondary classifications and allowed him to temporarily wear the white combined classification jersey.
This jersey is of particular interest for two reasons: it commemorates an Italian victory in the Tour de France and bears witness to a former function of the white jersey, which is now associated with the best young rider classification. It is a precious memento of the 1974 Tour de France and the career of Ercole Gualazzini, one of the Italian riders to have won a stage in each of the three Grand Tours.
