The medals & plaques - 14
ITEM N°270
SCIEUR Léon (B)
(19.03.1888 – 07.10.1969)
Medal of recognition awarded to the winner of the 1921 Tour de France
Born on 19 March 1888 in Florennes, Léon Scieur was part of the great generation of Belgian champions of the early 20th century. Nicknamed ‘The Locomotive’ due to his power and stamina, he became one of the finest cyclists of his era.
After finishing fourth in the Tour de France in both 1919 and 1920, he won Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 1920. The following year, he achieved his crowning glory by winning the 1921 Tour de France, with two stage victories and a lead of nearly twenty minutes over his compatriot Hector Heusghem.
Léon Scieur took the lead in the general classification from the second stage onwards and held on to it until the final finish. His victory was the sixth in a series of seven consecutive Belgian wins in the Tour between 1912 and 1922.
The item on display is a commemorative medal presented to Léon Scieur on the occasion of the fiftieth edition of the Tour de France, held in 1963. It pays tribute to the 1921 winner, more than forty years after his triumph. Preserved in its original case lined with red velvet, the medal is large and circular in shape. Its relief design depicts a mountainous landscape traversed by a winding road, evoking the great mountain passes and long stages that shaped the legend of the Tour de France.
The photograph accompanying the medal shows Léon Scieur on the roads of the 1921 Tour. Loaded down with spare inner tubes and a pannier, he is shown in the rudimentary conditions imposed on riders of that era, who were forced to carry out much of their own repairs.
This medal thus forges a link between the pioneers of the Grande Boucle and modern cycling of the 1960s. It bears witness to the recognition accorded to former winners who helped shape the history and prestige of the race.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this award preserves the memory of Léon Scieur and his remarkable victory in the 1921 Tour de France.
ITEM N° 271
SCIEUR Léon (B)
(19.03.1888 – 07.10.1969)
Award presented to mark the 50th anniversary of the Royal Belgian Cycling League
Winner of the 1921 Tour de France, Léon Scieur was one of the leading figures in Belgian cycling in the post-First World War era. Nicknamed ‘The Locomotive’, he stood out for his power, stamina and consistency in long races.
Before his triumph in the Tour de France, he finished fourth in the race in both 1919 and 1920. That same year, he won Liège–Bastogne–Liège. In 1921, he won two stages of the Tour and took the overall classification ahead of his compatriot Hector Heusghem.
The item on display is a commemorative medal presented to Léon Scieur in 1932 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Royal Belgian Cycling League. Preserved in its original case, the metal badge features a crowned lion viewed from the front, the symbol of Belgium. This is flanked by the dates 1882 and 1932, marking the federation’s fifty years of existence. At the bottom are the initials L.V.B., standing for the Belgian Cycling League. The case bears a gold inscription specifying the nature of the commemoration: ‘Fiftieth anniversary of the Royal Belgian Velocipede League – To Mr Léon Scieur’. This personalised dedication allows the object to be directly linked to the former Tour de France winner.
The award bears witness to the recognition accorded to Léon Scieur by the institutions of Belgian cycling. Eleven years after his victory in the Tour de France, he remains a respected figure and a symbol of the heroic age of road racing.
The photograph accompanying the object shows Léon Scieur in his racing kit standing beside his bicycle. It evokes the simple, sturdy bicycles and rudimentary equipment used by the champions of the early 20th century.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this commemorative award links the memory of Léon Scieur to the history of the Belgian Cycling Federation and to fifty years of development in national cycling.
ITEM N° 272
SCIEUR Léon (B)
(19.03.1888 – 07.10.1969)
Medal of recognition awarded by the Namur Province Cycling Section in 1957
Born on 19 March 1888 in Florennes, in the province of Namur, Léon Scieur was one of the leading figures in Belgian cycling in the early 20th century. His power and stamina earned him the nickname ‘La Locomotive’.
After finishing fourth in the Tour de France in 1919 and 1920, he won Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 1920. The following year, he won two stages of the Tour de France and took the overall classification, finishing nearly twenty minutes ahead of Hector Heusghem.
The item on display is a commemorative medal presented to Léon Scieur in 1957, to mark the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Namur provincial cycling section. Circular in shape and made of a metal with a golden patina, the medal depicts a draped female figure. She holds out a laurel wreath – a traditional symbol of victory and recognition – above a multi-tiered plinth.
This allegorical composition evokes sporting glory and pays tribute to champions. The figure’s solemn demeanour and the classical treatment of the design are characteristic of commemorative awards from the mid-20th century.
Awarded thirty-six years after his victory in the Tour de France, the medal bears witness to the enduring place Léon Scieur holds in Namur’s sporting memory. Originally from Florennes, the champion remains one of the most prestigious figures in the province’s cycling history.
The photograph accompanying the object shows Léon Scieur after the race, surrounded by several people. His weather-beaten face, dusty clothes and spare tubular tyres slung over his shoulders are a reminder of the particularly gruelling conditions of cycling in his day.
Displayed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this medal preserves the memory of the tribute paid in 1957 to Léon Scieur, winner of the 1921 Tour de France and a leading figure in Belgium’s cycling heritage.
