The jerseys - 52
ITEM N° 210
MUSEEUW Johan (B)
(13.10.1965)
His green jersey as winner of the points classification at the 1990 Tour of Ireland
Born on 13 October 1965 in Varsenare, West Flanders, Johan Museeuw is one of the greatest classics specialists in the history of Belgian cycling. A professional from 1988 to 2004, he built his exceptional reputation on the cobbled roads of Flanders and northern France.
Nicknamed the ‘Lion of Flanders’, he won the Tour of Flanders three times, in 1993, 1995 and 1998, as well as Paris–Roubaix in 1996, 2000 and 2002. He also became road world champion in 1996, in Lugano, and won the World Cup twice. His list of honours also includes the Amstel Gold Race, Paris–Tours, two Zurich Championships and two Belgian national titles.
This item is the green jersey won by Johan Museeuw in the points classification of the 1990 Tour of Ireland, then known as the Nissan International Classic.
A significant handwritten dedication occupies the lower part of the jersey: ‘Veel succes! Wanneer ik in de buurt ben, kom ik zeker eens langs. Museeuw.’ This inscription can be translated as: ‘Good luck! When I’m in the area, I’ll definitely pop round. Museeuw.” Written and signed by the rider himself, this dedication lends the item a deeply personal touch. It bears witness to the links between Johan Museeuw, Noël Grégoire and the collection in which the jersey is now preserved.
The Tour of Ireland, organised at that time under the name Nissan Classic, was one of the leading stage races in the British Isles. Its hilly and often wind-swept route attracts top-class riders. In 1990, Johan Museeuw won a stage and topped the points classification, thanks to his consistency in the finishes and sprints. He also finished second in the general classification, just fifteen seconds behind the Dutchman Erik Breukink.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this green jersey commemorates the points classification won by Johan Museeuw at the 1990 Tour of Ireland. It recalls the first major victories of a rider who was destined to become the legendary ‘Lion of Flanders’.
ITEM N° 212)
NARDELLO Daniele (I) (02.08.1972)
His 2001 Italian Road Champion’s jersey
Born on 2 August 1972 in Varese, Lombardy, Daniele Nardello is an Italian cyclist who turned professional in 1994 and retired in 2009. A strong all-rounder with great stamina and at ease on undulating routes, he excelled in both the classics and major stage races.
A long-standing member of the powerful Mapei team, Nardello’s notable victories include Milan–Turin in 1996, a stage of the Tour de France in 1998, two stages of the Vuelta a España, the Tour du Haut-Var in 2000 and 2001, and the Zurich Championship in 2003. He also achieved several top-ten finishes in the classics, including second place in the 1995 Tour of Lombardy.
His consistency enabled him to finish in the top ten of the Tour de France on several occasions. In 2004, he also represented Italy in the road race at the Athens Olympic Games. (Daniele Nardello’s honours list
This Mapei–Quick Step team jersey was worn by Daniele Nardello as the 2001 Italian Road Champion.
That year, Daniele Nardello won the Italian Professional Road Championship ahead of Michele Bartoli and Daniele De Paoli. This victory was one of the highlights of his career.
A handwritten dedication and Daniele Nardello’s signature are visible on the upper part of the jersey. They lend the item a personal touch and reinforce its direct link to the rider. The photograph showing Nardello holding this very jersey completes this provenance. It establishes a connection between the champion, the preserved item and the collection. The photograph taken during the race, meanwhile, allows us to see a similar tricolour jersey worn in its sporting context. The combination of the jersey, the dedication and these photographs constitutes a particularly valuable documentary collection for tracing the material history of the item.
This jersey brings together a leading Italian champion, one of the most iconic teams of his era and one of the major symbols of national cycling: the tricolour jersey.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey keeps alive the memory of the Italian championship title won by Daniele Nardello in 2001. It bears witness to a season during which the rider from Varese wore his country’s colours whilst riding for one of the most prestigious teams in the history of cycling.
ITEM N° 213
NELISSEN Wilfried (B) (05.05.1970)
Green jersey worn at the 1993 Tour de France
Born on 5 May 1970 in Tongeren, in Belgian Limburg, Wilfried Nelissen was one of the best sprinters in the European peloton during the first half of the 1990s. Turning professional in 1990, he stood out for his power, his attacking style and his ability to position himself well in bunch sprints.
His list of achievements includes more than forty professional victories. Notable wins include the 1992 Grand Prix de l’Escaut, the Circuit Het Volk in 1993 and 1994, as well as numerous stages in Paris–Nice, the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, the Tour de Suisse and various European stage races.
Nelissen also became Belgian road champion in 1994 and 1995. However, recurring injuries, particularly to his knee, forced him to bring his career to a premature end in the late 1990s.
This item is a green points classification jersey worn by Wilfried Nelissen during the 1993 Tour de France.
A handwritten inscription, a date and Wilfried Nelissen’s signature are visible on the lower part of the jersey. This dedication establishes a personal link between the item, the rider and its preservation in the museum. The photograph showing Nelissen sitting next to the jersey and a trophy complements this provenance. A second image shows him racing in a similar green kit, allowing the object to be placed in its sporting context. The combination of the jersey, the signature and the photographs thus constitutes a particularly valuable documentary collection.
This jersey brings together a great Belgian sprinter, a stage victory in the Tour de France and the momentary lead in two of the race’s major classifications.
Beyond the points classification, this item evokes Wilfried Nelissen’s exceptional first week at the 1993 Tour: winner at Vannes, wearer of the yellow jersey and a key figure in the sprints against Cipollini and Abdoujaparov.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey preserves the memory of the 1993 Tour de France and one of the most brilliant periods of Wilfried Nelissen’s career. His autograph and the accompanying photographic documentation make it a personal testament to the golden age of Belgian sprinters in the 1990s.
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