The medals & plaques - 11
ITEM N°194
MAES Romain (B)
(10.08.1912 – 22.02.1983)
1935 Grand Prix of the City of Tournai Medal
Born on 10 August 1912 in Zerkegem, Romain Maes was one of the leading figures in Belgian cycling during the interwar period. A professional from 1933 to 1942, he is best remembered for his spectacular victory in the 1935 Tour de France.
During that race, he claimed the yellow jersey from the very first stage and held onto it all the way to Paris – a feat that is particularly rare in the history of the event. He won three stages and took the overall classification ahead of the Italian Ambrogio Morelli and the Belgian Félicien Vervaecke. His success sparked immense enthusiasm in Belgium and made him a true folk hero. A courageous and attacking rider, Romain Maes also distinguished himself in numerous races held in Belgium and France.
The item on display is a medal from the 1935 Grand Prix of the City of Tournai, awarded as part of a race reserved for professional cyclists. The obverse features the coat of arms of the City of Tournai, surmounted by a crown and adorned with fleurs-de-lis. The reverse bears the original engraving ‘Grand Prix de la Ville de Tournai – 1935’, surrounded by the inscription ‘Cycling races for professional riders’. Its aged patina, preserved on both sides, attests to its authenticity and is characteristic of honorary sports medals produced in the 1930s. This object highlights the importance of host cities in recognising cycling champions. The inscriptions unequivocally establish the medal’s connection to the 1935 Grand Prix of the City of Tournai. However, the inscriptions alone do not specify whether this medal was awarded for a victory in the race or whether it constituted a special tribute to Romain Maes following his triumph in the Tour de France.
The photograph on the right shows the champion working on a bicycle wheel. It evokes the close relationship riders of that era had with their equipment and complements the display of this precious memento.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this medal preserves the memory of Romain Maes, the prestigious winner of the 1935 Tour de France and a prominent figure in the history of Belgian cycling.
ITEM N° 589
MAES Romain (B)
(10.08.1912 – 22.02.1983)
Medal presented in Dunkirk to the future winner of the 1935 Tour de France
A leading figure in Belgian cycling between the two world wars, Romain Maes turned professional in 1933. Two years later, he made history by winning the 1935 Tour de France.
Winner of the first stage between Paris and Lille, he immediately claimed the yellow jersey and held onto it until the final finish. With three stage victories, he won the general classification ahead of the Italian Ambrogio Morelli and the Belgian Félicien Vervaecke. His triumph sparked immense enthusiasm in Belgium.
The item on display is a medal awarded to Romain Maes in Dunkirk in 1934, a few months before his success in the Tour de France. It bears witness to the awards and tributes bestowed upon cycling champions during the 1930s.
The obverse features a helmeted female figure, surrounded by the inscription ‘République française’. This allegorical representation is characteristic of official French medals from this period. The reverse offers a detailed view of the port of Dunkirk, with its ships, port facilities and several urban buildings. At the top are the town’s coat of arms and the inscription ‘Ville de Dunkerque’. The lower part bears the name Romain Maes – a name that is now difficult to decipher – as well as the date 22 September 1934. These details allow the medal to be directly linked to the Belgian cyclist and to an event organised in Dunkirk.
The central photograph shows the champion during his competitive years. It evokes the heroic era of road cycling and foreshadows the remarkable feat he would achieve the following year.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this medal is a valuable testament to Romain Maes’s career prior to his exceptional victory in the 1935 Tour de France.
ITEM N° 654
MAES Romain (B)
(10.08.1912 – 22.02.1983)
A silverware trophy that belonged to the winner of the 1935 Tour de France
Romain Maes was one of the leading figures in Belgian cycling between the two world wars. A professional from 1933 to 1942, he is best remembered for his extraordinary victory in the 1935 Tour de France.
That year, he won the first stage between Paris and Lille and immediately claimed the yellow jersey. He retained the lead in the general classification right up to the final finish, becoming one of the few riders to have worn the leader’s jersey from the first day to the last.
The item on display is a silver cup from the 1930s that belonged to Romain Maes. Passed down by his daughter, it has a family provenance that establishes a direct link to the winner of the 1935 Tour de France. Crafted from patinated metal, the cup has a slender body topped by a lid. The lid is crowned with an elegant palmette-shaped floral motif. Two large, symmetrical handles, finished with decorative elements, harmoniously frame the vessel. The main face bears a relief coat of arms surrounded by ornamental decoration. The body rests on a long stem, which is in turn attached to a substantial circular plinth of veined stone. The patina and signs of ageing have been preserved and bear witness to the object’s age.
In the absence of a legible inscription identifying a specific competition, this piece should be regarded as a personal cup belonging to Romain Maes rather than as the definitive trophy for his victory in the Tour de France. Its family provenance nevertheless confers upon it great historical and commemorative value.
The central photograph shows the champion being welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd during the 1935 Tour de France. It captures the extraordinary public fervour sparked by his victory, whilst the portrait on the left depicts Romain Maes a few years later.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this cup preserves the memory of Romain Maes and his exceptional victory in the 1935 Tour de France, one of the greatest feats in the history of Belgian cycling.
