The jerseys - 79
ITEM N° 322
VERBRUGGHE Rik (B)
(23.07.1974)
His leader’s jersey from the 2002 Tour de Romandie
Born on 23 July 1974 in Tirlemont, in Flemish Brabant, Rik Verbrugghe is a former Belgian professional cyclist. An excellent all-rounder, he excelled particularly in time trials, prologues and hilly classics.
A professional from 1996 to 2008, he became Belgian time trial champion in 2000. The following year marked the peak of his career: he won the Flèche Wallonne, the Critérium International, the prologue of the Giro d’Italia and a stage of the Tour de France.
On 30 April 2002, Rik Verbrugghe lined up for the prologue of the Tour de Romandie riding for Lotto–Adecco. On the 3.2-kilometre course through Geneva, he set the fastest time of 4 minutes and 13 seconds. He finished one second ahead of the Swiss rider Alexandre Moos and two seconds ahead of Martin Elmiger. This victory saw him take the lead in the general classification and don the yellow leader’s jersey. Rik Verbrugghe retained his first place at the end of the following stage, contested between Geneva-Malleray and Bévilard. He ultimately finished the race in thirteenth place in the general classification, 2 minutes and 18 seconds behind the winner, Dario Frigo.
After his racing career, Rik Verbrugghe became a sports director and then coach of the Belgian national team. He thus continued his involvement in professional cycling by putting his experience at the service of the riders.
The item on display is the yellow leader’s jersey worn by Rik Verbrugghe during the 2002 Tour de Romandie.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey serves as a memento of Rik Verbrugghe’s victory in the prologue of the 2002 Tour de Romandie. His signature and the photograph of the ceremony provide a direct link to his triumph in the Swiss race.
ITEM N° 528
VIGNA Marino (I)
(06.11.1938)
His Gazzola jersey worn in 1964
Born on 6 November 1938 in Milan, Marino Vigna is a former Italian cyclist. Having trained on velodromes, notably the Vigorelli, he first made his mark as a track cyclist before continuing his professional career on the road.
In 1960, he became Olympic champion in the team pursuit at the Rome Games alongside Luigi Arienti, Franco Testa and Mario Vallotto. The Italian quartet triumphed in the final against the German team.
Having turned professional in 1961, Marino Vigna won a stage of the Giro d’Italia in 1963. The following year, riding for Gazzola, he won the Tre Valli Varonesi, a stage of the Tour de Romandie and the Tour des Trois Provinces. On 1 May 1964, he triumphed in the Tre Valli Varonesi after a 267-kilometre race. He beat his compatriots Antonio Bailetti and Flaviano Vicentini in the sprint. This victory was one of the major highlights of his professional career. His list of achievements also includes the Trophée Laigueglia in 1965 and Milan–Turin in 1966. He brought his racing career to an end at the close of the 1967 season.
After his sporting career, Marino Vigna became sports director of the Faema team, where he worked notably with Eddy Merckx. He subsequently held various technical roles within Italian cycling.
The item on display is a jersey worn by Marino Vigna whilst riding for the Italian Gazzola team in 1964. A photograph autographed by Marino Vigna accompanies the jersey. In it, the rider refers to the 1964 Gazzola jersey and his victory in the Trois Vallées varésines. Dated 26 May 2019, this inscription confirms the item’s authenticity and provenance.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey preserves the memory of one of Marino Vigna’s finest seasons. Its woollen fabric, its colours and the accompanying dedication make it a characteristic testament to Italian cycling in the 1960s.
ITEM N° 324
VISENTINI Roberto (I)
(02.06.1957)
His pink jersey as winner of the 1986 Giro d’Italia
Born on 2 June 1957 in Gardone Riviera, Lombardy, Roberto Visentini is an Italian cyclist who is particularly at home in stage races. A strong climber and an excellent all-rounder, he was one of the leading figures in Italian cycling during the 1980s.
Junior road world champion in 1975, he turned professional in 1978. On his very first appearance in the Giro d’Italia, he won the best young rider classification, quickly confirming his aptitude for the Grand Tours.
Finishing second in the Giro in 1983 – the year in which he also won Tirreno-Adriatico – Visentini wore the pink jersey on several occasions before achieving his crowning glory in 1986. During that edition, riding for the Carrera Jeans team, he won the stage to Potenza and then took the pink jersey in Foppolo at the end of the sixteenth stage. He held the lead right through to the final finish in Merano and won the Giro ahead of Giuseppe Saronni and Francesco Moser. This victory was confirmed on 2 June 1986, his twenty-ninth birthday.
During his career, which ended in 1990, Roberto Visentini competed in twelve Giro d’Italia races, won five stages and wore the pink jersey for twenty-seven days. He also secured two stage victories in the Vuelta a España.
The item on display is the pink jersey worn by Roberto Visentini during his victory in the 1986 Giro d’Italia. The photographs accompanying the jersey show the Italian cyclist clad in pink on the roads of the Giro.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this signed jersey is an exceptional testament to Roberto Visentini’s victory in the 1986 Giro d’Italia and one of the defining moments of his career.
