The jerseys - 85
ITEM N° 491
ZEN Marco (I)
(02.01.1963)
His ‘Panasonic–Sportlife’ jersey, worn in 1991 and 1992
Born on 2 January 1963 in Bassano del Grappa, in the Italian province of Vicenza, Marco Zen is a former Italian professional cyclist. A hard-working and versatile team rider, he competed at the highest international level from 1987 to 1997.
He began his professional career with the Alfa Lum team, before moving to Del Tongo and then Panasonic. He rode for the latter team during the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
During his career, Marco Zen competed in several Grand Tours, notably three editions of the Tour de France. His role was primarily to support his teams’ leaders and work for the collective good in long stage races.
After his time with Panasonic, he continued his career with the Lampre and then ZG Mobili teams. This longevity is a testament to his qualities as a team player and his consistency in the professional peloton.
The item on display is a long-sleeved jersey from the Panasonic–Sportlife team worn by Marco Zen in 1991 and 1992. It serves as a reminder of his time with one of the most prominent teams in European cycling during that period. A handwritten dedication and Marco Zen’s signature are visible on the blue section of the jersey. These reinforce the item’s authenticity and establish a personal link between the rider and his jersey.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey preserves the memory of Marco Zen’s time with the Panasonic team. Its iconic colours, various markings and dedication make it a distinctive testament to professional cycling in the early 1990s.
ITEM N° 342 (B)
ZOETEMELK Joop (NL)
(03.12.1946)
His 1985 World Champion’s jersey
Born on 3 December 1946 in Rijpwetering, the Netherlands, Joop Zoetemelk is one of the leading figures in Dutch cycling. A well-rounded, consistent rider with exceptional stamina, he enjoyed a professional career from 1970 to 1987.
Before turning professional, he won the gold medal in the team time trial at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. He then quickly established himself as one of the leading specialists in stage races.
His list of achievements is highlighted by his victory in the Vuelta a España in 1979 and, above all, by his overall victory in the 1980 Tour de France. A six-time runner-up in the Tour de France, he also claimed ten stage victories in the race. In 1985, whilst riding for the Kwantum Hallen-Decosol-Yoko team, Joop Zoetemelk achieved one of the greatest feats of his career. In Giavera del Montello, Italy, he attacked in the final kilometres of the World Road Championships and won solo ahead of Greg LeMond and Moreno Argentin. Aged 38, he thus became world champion following a race he had perfectly controlled. This late victory rewarded the longevity and remarkable consistency of a professional cyclist who had been competing for fifteen seasons.
The item on display is a world champion’s jersey worn by Joop Zoetemelk in 1985. A dedication and a signature visible on the front reinforce the authenticity and personal significance of this item. They establish a direct link between the jersey, the rider and the collection in which it is now preserved.
The central photograph shows Joop Zoetemelk racing in his world champion’s colours. The photograph on the right, taken several years later, shows him personally holding the jersey now in the collection, thus providing valuable evidence of the item’s provenance.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey preserves the memory of the world title won by Joop Zoetemelk in 1985. Its rainbow stripes, his signature and the accompanying photographs make it a major artefact in the history of Dutch cycling.
ITEM N°344
ZÜLLE Alex (CH)
(05.07.1968)
The yellow jersey he wore at the 1996 Tour de France
Born on 5 July 1968 in Wil, in the Swiss canton of St Gallen, Alex Zülle was one of the finest stage race riders of the 1990s. An excellent all-rounder and a solid climber, he enjoyed a professional career from 1991 to 2004.
He made his debut with ONCE, a Spanish team with which he achieved his greatest successes. Notably, he won the Vuelta a España in 1996 and 1997, as well as the World Time Trial Championship in 1996 in Lugano. Alex Zülle also distinguished himself in the Tour de France, finishing second in 1995 and 1999. His list of achievements also includes the Tour de Suisse, the Tour of the Basque Country and several stage wins in the three Grand Tours.
The 1996 Tour de France set off from ‘s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. Alex Zülle won the 9.4-kilometre prologue, finishing two seconds ahead of Britain’s Chris Boardman. Thanks to this victory, he claimed the race’s first yellow jersey. The Swiss rider retained the lead in the general classification during the opening stages, before handing the jersey over to Stéphane Heulot at the end of the fourth stage.
The item on display is a yellow jersey worn by Alex Zülle during the 1996 Tour de France. The rider’s signature is affixed to the lower part of the jersey. This detail reinforces the authenticity and personal significance of this item, which is directly associated with the 1996 Tour de France.
The photographs show Alex Zülle wearing the yellow jersey on his bike and then raising his arms during the official ceremony. They place the jersey in its context and illustrate one of the defining moments of his career.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey preserves the memory of Alex Zülle’s victory in the prologue of the 1996 Tour de France. Its colour, markings and signature make it a memento directly linked to the Swiss champion’s time at the head of the Grande Boucle.
