The jerseys - 72
ITEM N° 353
THÉVENET Bernard (F)
(10.01.1948)
His Peugeot–Esso–Michelin jersey worn in 1977
Born on 10 January 1948 in Saint-Julien-de-Civry, in Saône-et-Loire, Bernard Thévenet was one of the leading French champions of the 1970s. A professional from 1970 to 1981, he spent much of his career riding for Peugeot.
He made his mark in his very first Tour de France, in 1970, by winning the stage to La Mongie. A powerful climber and all-rounder, he went on to win several mountain stages and quickly became one of Eddy Merckx’s main rivals.
His honours include the 1972 Tour de Romandie, the 1973 French Road Championship, the 1974 Tour of Catalonia, and two consecutive victories in the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré, in 1975 and 1976.
In 1975, Bernard Thévenet made history by winning his first Tour de France. His attack on the Pra-Loup stage brought an end to Eddy Merckx’s dominance and earned him the nickname ‘the Cannibal’s conqueror’.
The 1977 season saw him racing for the Peugeot–Esso–Michelin team. That year, he won the Tour de France for the second time, following a particularly close battle against Hennie Kuiper and Lucien Van Impe.
The item on display is the team jersey worn by Bernard Thévenet during that victorious season. The jersey is characterised by its white background, black lettering and a chequered band around the waist. This black-and-white pattern, emblematic of Peugeot, is one of the most recognisable designs in the history of cycling teams. The period photograph places the jersey within the context of the Peugeot peloton.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this Peugeot–Esso–Michelin jersey preserves the memory of Bernard Thévenet’s 1977 season. Linked to his second victory in the Tour de France, it bears witness to the enduring bond between the champion and the team with which he achieved his greatest successes.
ITEM N° 576
THOMAS Geraint (G.B.) (25.05.1986)
The ceremonial pink jersey he wore on the podium at the end of the 16th stage of the 2023 Giro d’Italia
Born on 25 May 1986 in Cardiff, Wales, Geraint Thomas is a British cyclist who competed professionally on the road from 2007 to 2025. His career has been characterised by remarkable versatility, as he first made his mark on the track before becoming one of the finest stage race riders of his generation.
As a member of the British team pursuit squad, he won two Olympic titles, in Beijing in 2008 and then in London in 2012. He also became a three-time world champion in the team pursuit. Following these successes on the track, he gradually shifted his focus to road racing, demonstrating his abilities in the classics as well as in major stage races.
His list of victories includes, notably, the 2015 Grand Prix E3, Paris–Nice 2016, the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de France in 2018, the 2021 Tour de Romandie and the 2022 Tour de Suisse. Winner of the 2018 Tour de France, he went on to finish second in the 2019 edition and third in 2022.
In 2023, aged 36, Geraint Thomas competed in the Giro d’Italia as team leader for Ineos Grenadiers. The sixteenth stage, held on 23 May between Sabbio Chiese and Monte Bondone over 203 kilometres, proved to be a decisive moment in the race. João Almeida won the stage ahead of Geraint Thomas. Thanks to this performance, the Welshman regained the lead in the general classification, 18 seconds ahead of Almeida and 29 seconds ahead of Roglič. Geraint Thomas held onto first place until the mountain time trial on the penultimate stage, held on the slopes of Monte Lussari. There, Primož Roglič turned the standings on their head and ultimately won the Giro by just 14 seconds ahead of the Briton. This second-place finish nevertheless stands as one of the most remarkable performances of Thomas’s late career.
This jersey thus evokes a particularly hard-fought Giro and the astonishing longevity of a champion capable of remaining at the very highest level more than fifteen years after his first Olympic title. It symbolically links the pursuit specialist, the Tour de France winner and the contender for the pink jersey.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this item preserves the memory of the thrilling battle for victory in the 2023 Giro. Worn on the podium at Monte Bondone, this pink jersey bears witness to Geraint Thomas’s consistency, experience and remarkable versatility.
ITEM N° 646
UIJTDEBROEKS Cian (B) (28.02.2003)
His white Best Young Rider’s jersey, worn on the podium at the end of Stage 4 of the 2024 Giro d’Italia
Born on 28 February 2003 in Abolens, in the Belgian province of Liège, Cian Uijtdebroeks is a Belgian cyclist who is particularly at home on climbs and in stage races. Regarded from an early age as one of the leading prospects of his generation, he stands out for his climbing ability and his consistency on mountainous routes.
His progress through the junior ranks was marked by his victory in the general classification of the 2022 Tour de l’Avenir.
After turning professional with the Bora–Hansgrohe team, he achieved several promising results as early as 2023. Notably, he finished eighth in the Vuelta a España on his first appearance in a Grand Tour, demonstrating at just twenty years of age his ability to remain competitive over three weeks.
In 2024, Cian Uijtdebroeks joined the Visma–Lease a Bike team and made his debut in the Giro d’Italia. From the very first stages, he took the lead in the Best Young Rider classification and donned the white jersey reserved for the highest-placed rider under 25 in the general classification.
The fourth stage of the Giro, held on 7 May between Acqui Terme and Andora, concluded with a sprint victory for Jonathan Milan. Still firmly positioned in the general classification, Uijtdebroeks retained his white jersey at the finish and took to the podium to receive this honour. Uijtdebroeks held onto the white jersey for several days and remained well placed amongst the favourites. However, due to illness, he was forced to withdraw before the start of the eleventh stage.
The item on display is the ceremonial white jersey worn by Cian Uijtdebroeks during that ceremony.
The rider’s signature, accompanied by documents and photographs relating to that day, reinforces the provenance and historical value of the collection.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this ceremonial jersey preserves the memory of Cian Uijtdebroeks’ debut in the Giro d’Italia. His signature and the photograph taken on the podium in Andora make it a personal and accurately documented record of the 2024 edition.
