The jerseys - 86
ITEM N° 345
ZÜLLE Alex (CH)
(05.07.1968)
His Swiss national team jersey and cycling shorts, worn at the 1996 World Championships in Lugano
Born on 5 July 1968 in Wil, in the canton of St Gallen, Alex Zülle was one of the finest stage race and time trial specialists of the 1990s. A professional from 1991 to 2004, he built up the bulk of his honours whilst riding for the Spanish team ONCE.
Runner-up in the Tour de France in 1995 and 1999, he won the Vuelta a España twice, in 1996 and 1997. His honours also include the Tour de Suisse, the Tour of the Basque Country and several stages in the three Grand Tours.
In October 1996, the World Championships were held in Lugano, Switzerland. In front of his home crowd, Alex Zülle won the individual time trial and became world champion ahead of Britain’s Chris Boardman and his compatriot Tony Rominger.
The items on display are a Swiss national team jersey and a pair of cycling shorts worn by Alex Zülle at the 1996 World Championships in Lugano. They are directly linked to one of the most prestigious seasons of his career. The cycling shorts, preserved alongside the jersey, complete this national team kit. These two items form a set directly linked to Alex Zülle’s participation in the world championships held in his home country.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this set preserves the memory of Alex Zülle’s world title victory in 1996. Its national colours, markings and association with the Lugano Championships make it a major testament to the history of Swiss cycling.
ITEM N° 347
ZÜLLE Alex (CH)
(05.07.1968)
The jersey he wore when he won the prologue of the 1996 Tour de France
Alex Zülle was one of the finest stage race riders of the 1990s. An excellent all-rounder and a solid climber, he competed as a professional from 1991 to 2004.
He achieved his greatest successes whilst riding for the Spanish team ONCE. Notably, he won the Vuelta a España in 1996 and 1997, the World Time Trial Championship in 1996 and the Tour de Suisse in 2002.
In the Tour de France, Alex Zülle finished second in the general classification in 1995 and again in 1999. His skills as a solo specialist also enabled him to shine regularly in prologues and time trials.
On 29 June 1996, the Tour de France began in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, in the Netherlands, with a 9.4-kilometre prologue. Alex Zülle won, finishing two seconds ahead of the British rider Chris Boardman, and donned the race’s first yellow jersey.
The item on display is the cycling suit worn by Alex Zülle during his victory in that prologue. Designed for time trials, it combines the jersey and shorts into a single garment to improve aerodynamics.
The accompanying photograph shows Alex Zülle wearing this same one-piece suit next to his Look bike, moments before or after his race. It places the item in the context of its use and allows for a precise comparison of its colours and markings.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this suit serves as a memento of Alex Zülle’s victory in the prologue of the 1996 Tour de France. Directly linked to his conquest of the yellow jersey, it stands as a major testament to his career and the history of the time trial.
ITEM N° 548
ZÜLLE Alex (CH)
(05.07.1968)
The jersey he wore when he won the world time trial title in Lugano on 10 October 1996
Born on 5 July 1968 in Wil, in the Swiss canton of St Gallen, Alex Zülle was one of the finest stage race and time trial specialists of the 1990s. A professional from 1991 to 2004, he stood out for his power in solo efforts and his climbing ability.
His honours include two victories in the Vuelta a España, in 1996 and 1997, as well as two second-place finishes in the general classification of the Tour de France, in 1995 and 1999. He also won the Tour de Suisse in 2002 and several stages in the three Grand Tours.
On 10 October 1996, Alex Zülle competed in the World Time Trial Championships in Lugano. In front of a Swiss home crowd, he set the fastest time and claimed the world title ahead of Britain’s Chris Boardman and his compatriot Tony Rominger.
This success was one of the most significant moments of his career. Achieved just a few weeks after his victory in the Vuelta a España, it cemented his place amongst the finest time-trialists of his generation.
The item on display is the cycling jersey worn by Alex Zülle when he won the world title in Lugano. Alex Zülle’s signature is visible on the upper part of the jersey. It reinforces the authenticity and personal significance of this item of kit, which is directly associated with his world title victory. The photograph shows the Swiss rider wearing this very same jersey on his Look bike during the race. It allows for a precise comparison between the item on display and the jersey used in the race, and places it within the context of his victory.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this jersey preserves the memory of the world title won by Alex Zülle in Lugano in 1996. Worn during his triumph on home soil, it is a key artefact in the history of Swiss cycling and the champion’s career.
