The jerseys - 44
ITEM N° 187
Mc EWEN Robbie (AUS)
(24.06.1972)
His Australian Road Championship jersey, worn in 2002
Born on 24 June 1972 in Brisbane, Robbie McEwen is one of the finest sprinters of his generation. Having started out in BMX, he turned professional in 1996 and made his mark with his explosive acceleration, his positioning skills and his ability to win without the benefit of a strong lead-out train.
During his career, he won twelve stages of the Tour de France, twelve stages of the Giro d’Italia and three points classifications at the Tour de France, in 2002, 2004 and 2006. His honours also include five Paris–Brussels victories and two Australian Road Championship titles, won in 2002 and 2005.
This item is an Australian national champion’s jersey worn by Robbie McEwen during the 2002 season, whilst riding for the Belgian Lotto–Adecco team.
The 2002 Australian Road Championship took place in Ballarat. Robbie McEwen managed to break away with Nathan O’Neill. The two riders held off the chasing peloton and crossed the line together for the win. Thanks to his sprinting ability, McEwen outpaced his breakaway companion and claimed the national title.
This item brings together Robbie McEwen’s first national road title, one of the finest seasons of his career and the iconic colours of Australian cycling. A handwritten dedication and Robbie McEwen’s signature appear on the green band. These reinforce the personal connection between the rider and the item held in the collection.
The jersey holds additional symbolic value: worn during the year in which McEwen became the first Australian to win the green jersey at the Tour de France, it marks Australia’s emergence as one of the leading nations in international cycling.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey serves as a memento of the 2002 season, during which Robbie McEwen was, in succession, Australian champion, stage winner at the Giro and the Tour, winner of the green jersey and world championship runner-up.
ITEM N° 190
MAERTENS Freddy (B) (13.02.1952)
Casual polo shirt from the Flandria–Velda–Latina team, worn by the 1977 champion
Born on 13 February 1952 in Lombardsijde, Freddy Maertens is one of the greatest Belgian champions of the 1970s. An exceptional sprinter but also a powerful all-rounder, he became world road champion in 1976, then regained the title in 1981 after several difficult seasons.
His honours include the 1977 Vuelta a España, the 1977 Paris–Nice, fifteen stages of the Tour de France and three green jerseys, won in 1976, 1978 and 1981. His career, marked by periods of spectacular dominance followed by a return to the forefront, holds a special place in the history of Belgian cycling.
This casual polo shirt was worn by Freddy in 1977 whilst riding for the Flandria–Velda–Latina team.
Unlike a race jersey, this garment is part of the kit worn by riders away from the race: whilst travelling, at meals, during team meetings, at official presentations or during rest periods. This polo shirt therefore evokes the everyday life surrounding competition: long journeys, shared meals, tactical meetings and moments of recovery. It offers a more intimate glimpse into professional cycling than is usually provided by race photographs.
This item brings together one of Belgium’s greatest champions, an iconic team and one of the most extraordinary seasons in the history of cycling.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this polo shirt preserves the memory of Freddy Maertens and the 1977 season, marked by his victory in Paris–Nice, his exceptional dominance of the Tour of Spain and his numerous successes whilst riding for Flandria–Velda–Latina.
ITEM N°518
MAGNE Antonin (F)
(15.02.1904 – 08.09.1983)
His yellow jersey from the 1934 Tour de France and the honorary sash presented by the City of Vichy
Born on 15 February 1904 in Ytrac, in the Cantal department, Antonin Magne, nicknamed ‘Tonin le Sage’, was one of the leading figures in French cycling during the interwar period. A well-rounded rider, methodical and particularly strong in time trials, he won the Tour de France in 1931 and 1934.
His honours also include ten Tour stages, three consecutive Grands Prix des Nations, from 1934 to 1936, and the world road cycling championship title in 1936. After his racing career, he became a respected team manager, working notably with Louison Bobet and Raymond Poulidor.
This item is a yellow jersey awarded to Antonin Magne and associated with his victory in the 1934 Tour de France.
The jersey is now an ochre-yellow colour, likely faded over time. It has short sleeves, a pointed turn-down collar and a front placket fastened with five small white buttons. Signs of wear, slight variations in colour and the creases retained in the fabric all contribute to the item’s historical value.
The jersey is accompanied by a long, ceremonial blue and yellow scarf, finished with metallic fringes. Its alternating colours create a striking contrast with the jersey’s hue. The scarf bears the town’s coat of arms and the inscription: ‘The Town of Vichy to Antonin Magne, winner of the 1934 Tour de France.’ The photograph accompanying the item shows the jersey on display in Paris alongside members of the Magne family. This family legacy is a key element of its provenance. The combination of the jersey, the personalised scarf and the photographic documentation allows the entire set to be directly linked to Antonin Magne and the celebrations that followed his second victory in the Tour de France.
This collection brings together a rare yellow jersey from the interwar period, the French two-time Tour winner and a record of the public tributes paid to champions in the 1930s.
