The jerseys - 62
ITEM N° 254
POULIDOR Raymond (F)
(15.04.1936 + 13.11.2019)
His silk jersey worn in time trials in 1976
Born on 15 April 1936 in Masbaraud-Mérignat, in the Creuse department, Raymond Poulidor became one of the most popular figures in the history of French sport. A professional cyclist from 1960 to 1977, the man affectionately nicknamed ‘Poupou’ by the public left his mark on his era through his courage, his consistency and his memorable duels with Jacques Anquetil, and later Eddy Merckx. He died on 13 November 2019 in Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat.
His list of achievements far exceeds his image as the ‘eternal runner-up’. Raymond Poulidor won Milan–San Remo and the French National Championship in 1961, the Flèche Wallonne in 1963, the Vuelta a España in 1964, the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré in 1966 and 1969, and Paris–Nice in 1972 and 1973. He also won seven stages of the Tour de France.
Raymond Poulidor holds the record for eight podium finishes in the Tour de France without ever having won the race or worn the yellow jersey. He finished second three times, in 1964, 1965 and 1974, and third five times, in 1962, 1966, 1969, 1972 and 1976.
The item on display is a lightweight silk jersey worn by Raymond Poulidor in the time trials of the 1976 season.
The period photograph shows Poulidor in a characteristic position typical of a solo effort. The other photograph features Noël Grégoire alongside the French champion, establishing a personal link between the rider and the collection in which his jersey is now preserved.
Displayed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this item bears witness to Raymond Poulidor’s final great season. This silk jersey combines his qualities as a time trial specialist with his final podium finish in the 1976 Tour de France, achieved at the age of forty at the end of an exceptional career.
ITEM N° 255
POULIDOR Raymond (F)
(15.04.1936 + 13.11.2019)
The white jersey he wore in Paris–Nice
Raymond Poulidor occupies a unique place in the French collective memory. Born in the Creuse in 1936, he turned professional in 1960 under the guidance of Antonin Magne and remained loyal to the various Mercier teams throughout his career. His down-to-earth nature, tenacity and closeness to the public earned him a popularity that extended far beyond the world of cycling.
French champion and winner of Milan–San Remo in 1961, he went on to win the Flèche Wallonne in 1963, the Vuelta a España in 1964 and the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré in 1966 and 1969. He also claimed seven stage victories in the Tour de France and set a record of eight podium finishes in the general classification.
Paris–Nice played a significant role in his career. Raymond Poulidor competed in the ‘Race to the Sun’ eighteen times without ever withdrawing. He won the general classification on two occasions, in 1972 and 1973, notably finishing ahead of Eddy Merckx in both editions.
The item on display is a white jersey worn by Raymond Poulidor during Paris–Nice. A handwritten dedication by the champion appears near the collar, adding a personal touch to the garment.
The jersey’s provenance is documented by an autographed letter from Raymond Poulidor. In this account, the cyclist recalls three outfits that had a particular impact on his sporting life, citing first and foremost his ‘white Paris–Nice jersey’. This reference provides the item with a precise provenance as well as significant documentary value. The letter also recalls two other significant memories: a Gan–Mercier jersey associated with a time trial victory and the last Mercier kit worn during his final race in Wambrechies in 1977. It thus places the white jersey within a collection of items personally selected by Poulidor to recount his career.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this item preserves the memory of the special bond between Raymond Poulidor and Paris–Nice. The white jersey, his dedication and the champion’s handwritten letter constitute a personal and particularly valuable account of ‘Poupou’s’ successes in the ‘Race to the Sun’.
ITEM N° 351
POULIDOR Raymond (F)
(15.04.1936 + 13.11.2019)
The jersey he wore during his final race, the Wambrechies cyclo-cross, on 25 December 1977
When Raymond Poulidor lined up at the start of the Wambrechies cyclo-cross on 25 December 1977, he was about to bring one of the greatest chapters in French cycling to a close. Aged 41, the popular ‘Poupou’ was competing in his final race that day, after eighteen seasons spent with various Mercier teams.
Since turning professional in 1960, the champion from the Creuse region had built up an exceptional list of achievements. Winner of Milan–San Remo, the Flèche Wallonne, the Tour of Spain, two Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré and two Paris–Nice races, he also won seven stages of the Tour de France.
His 1977 season was further testament to his competitiveness. He secured several podium finishes in the major races on the calendar before choosing the Wambrechies cyclo-cross to bid farewell to the peloton. This final appearance, held on Christmas Day, officially marked the end of his sporting career.
This item is the jersey worn by Raymond Poulidor during that final race.
A handwritten dedication appears near the collar. Most notably, the jersey is accompanied by an autographed letter in which Raymond Poulidor reflects on three outfits that left their mark on his sporting life. He specifically refers to this item as the ‘jersey in which I rode my final race, Wambrechies 1977’. This written account directly establishes its provenance and historical significance.
That final race did not mark the end of Raymond Poulidor’s popularity. After his retirement, he remained closely associated with cycling, appearing in the media and regularly taking part in the Tour de France’s roadshow and events. His familiar presence thus continues to inspire several generations of cycling enthusiasts.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this item preserves the memory of Raymond Poulidor’s final day of competition. The Miko–Mercier–Hutchinson jersey, his dedication and the champion’s autographed letter constitute an exceptional record of the conclusion of a career that began eighteen years earlier and became inextricably linked with the history of French cycling.
