The medals & plaques - 12
ITEM N°206
MONSERÉ Jean-Pierre (B)
(08.09.1948 – 15.03.1971)
Honour bestowed by the city of Roeselare upon its world champion
A great hope for Belgian cycling in the late 1960s, Jean-Pierre Monseré enjoyed a rise to fame that was as remarkable as it was meteoric. Born on 8 September 1948 in Roeselare, he turned professional in 1969 and quickly established himself amongst the best riders of his generation.
In his very first professional season, he won the prestigious Tour of Lombardy. On 16 August 1970, in Leicester, Great Britain, he claimed the world road cycling championship title at the age of just 21. He finished ahead of the Dane Leif Mortensen and the Italian Felice Gimondi at the end of a race that has gone down in history.
On 28 November 1970, the town of Roeselare paid tribute to its young champion by presenting him with the award shown here. This award bears witness to the pride his world title inspired in his hometown and, more broadly, throughout Belgium.
The piece consists of a metal plaque mounted on a wooden frame. Its central design features a cyclist in relief, standing in front of his bicycle and holding a bouquet or wreath raised above his head. This victorious figure is surrounded by red motifs evoking flames or a stylised laurel wreath. In the lower section is a plaque bearing the name J.-P. Monseré and a commemorative inscription that has been partially worn away. Despite the deterioration of the text, the date and context indicated allow this honour to be linked to the tribute organised by Roeselare on 28 November 1970.
The photograph on the left shows Jean-Pierre Monseré wearing the rainbow jersey and the regalia of his world title. His still youthful face is a reminder of the precocious talent of a champion who seemed destined for an exceptional career.
A few months after this tribute, on 15 March 1971, Jean-Pierre Monseré died tragically during a race in Retie, after colliding with a car on the course. He was only 22 years old. His death caused a great deal of sadness in the world of cycling.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this award preserves the memory of a world champion who has become one of the most moving and admired figures in the history of Belgian cycling.
ITEM N° 235
PAUWELS Eddy (B)
(02.05.1935 – 06.03.2017)
Plaque commemorating his victory in the 1957 East German Amateur Tour
A courageous and tireless rider, Eddy Pauwels belongs to that generation of Belgian cyclists who made their mark on European roads during the 1950s and 1960s. Born on 2 May 1935 in Bornem, he showed great promise in stage races from a very early age.
In 1957, whilst still an amateur, he won the Tour of East Germany, also known as the DDR-Rundfahrt. This international victory marked a major milestone in his young career and opened the doors to professional cycling for him.
The item on display is the winner’s plaque presented to Eddy Pauwels at the end of that race. Preserved in its original case, it serves as a tangible testament to this success achieved against the distinctive backdrop of post-war Europe. Rectangular in shape, the metal plaque is adorned with several figures in relief. Its design combines allegorical figures with architectural elements and official symbols. The overall design is representative of the aesthetic of sporting awards produced in East Germany during the 1950s.
Following this victory, Eddy Pauwels continued his career as a professional cyclist. An attacking rider with exceptional stamina, he competed in several Tours de France, winning two stages and wearing the yellow jersey. His penchant for breakaways and his fighting spirit earned him great popularity with the public.
The photographs accompanying the commemorative booklet illustrate the various stages of his career. The first shows him giving his all during a race, whilst the second depicts him in the colours of the Mann team, with whom he spent part of his career.
This commemorative booklet thus recalls the promising early days of a rider who went on to become a much-loved figure in Belgian cycling. It also preserves the memory of a major amateur race that no longer exists.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, the plaque commemorates Eddy Pauwels’ victory in the 1957 East German Amateur Tour and a career characterised by endurance, daring and fighting spirit.
ITEM N° 243
PIJNEN René (NL)
(03.09.1946)
His 1985 European Champion’s medal in the American-style race
Born on 3 September 1946 in Woensdrecht, René Pijnen is one of the great Dutch figures in track cycling. An excellent rider, he also enjoyed a brilliant career on the road before becoming a specialist in Six-Day races.
In 1968, he won the gold medal in the team time trial at the Mexico City Olympic Games with the Dutch national team. Turning professional the following year, he distinguished himself notably in the Vuelta a España, where he won several stages and wore the leader’s jersey. The photograph on the left shows him alongside Luis Ocaña during the 1971 Vuelta.
René Pijnen gradually established himself as one of the finest track cyclists of his generation. Particularly successful in the Madison – a discipline contested by teams of two riders taking turns on the track – he won several European titles and numerous Six-Day races.
The item on display is the medal awarded to René Pijnen for his victory in the 1985 European American-style race championship. He won this title in Copenhagen alongside the Dane Gert Frank, another great specialist in track cycling. Suspended from a wide dark ribbon, the gold medal features, on one side, a stylised circular motif surrounded by a commemorative inscription. The other side bears the inscription ‘European Championships’, framed by a decorative crown. Its presentation emphasises the official and prestigious nature of this award.
This medal serves as a reminder of René Pijnen’s exceptional longevity, as he remained at the very highest international level nearly twenty years after his Olympic title. In 1985, he also won several Six-Day races, notably in Munich, Rotterdam and Zurich.
Through his list of achievements, his tactical mastery and the diversity of his teammates, René Pijnen remains a leading figure in American-style racing and Six-Day cycling.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this medal bears witness to his 1985 European title and one of the most remarkable careers in Dutch track cycling.
