The medals & plaques - 16
ITEM N°331
WAGTMANS Wout (NL)
(10.11.1929 – 15.08.1994)
His bronze medal at the 1955 Dutch Road Championships
An iconic figure in Dutch cycling of the 1950s, Wout Wagtmans is renowned for his attacking style and fierce fighting spirit. A professional from 1950 to 1961, he excelled in both one-day races and Grand Tours.
On 8 May 1955, he finished third in the Dutch Road Championships, held in Valkenburg over a distance of 198 kilometres. The title went to Thijs Roks ahead of Hein van Breenen, whilst Wagtmans completed the podium.
The item on display is the medal awarded to Wout Wagtmans for this third-place finish. The reverse bears the inscription ‘Kampioenschap van Nederland’, accompanied by the words ‘Weg 198 km’, ‘W. Wagtmans’, ‘3e prijs’ and the year 1955.
The obverse is adorned with the crowned lion of the Netherlands holding a sword and a bundle of arrows. Set against a blue enamel background, this national symbol is surrounded by the name of the Dutch cycling federation, the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Wielren Unie.
Crafted from a bronze-patinated metal, the medal bears several signs of age. Its slightly oxidised surface and suspension ring have been preserved as evidence of its material history.
This third-place finish confirms Wout Wagtmans’ remarkable consistency in the national championship. He had previously finished second in 1950 and 1954, as well as third in the 1951, 1952 and 1953 editions.
The 1955 season was also marked by his performances in the Tour de France. He wore the yellow jersey for several days and won the stage between Pau and Bordeaux, one of the four stage victories he achieved during his career in the Tour de France.
The central photograph shows Wout Wagtmans in the colours of the Maggi team. His smiling portrait, accompanied by his signature, serves as a reminder of the popularity and warm personality of the man affectionately nicknamed ‘Olijke Woutje’ by the public.
Displayed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this medal commemorates Wout Wagtmans’ third-place finish in the 1955 Dutch Road Championships and his remarkable consistency amongst the elite of Dutch cycling.
ITEM N° 332
WAGTMANS Wout (NL)
(10.11.1929 – 15.08.1994)
His silver medal at the 1954 Dutch Middle-Distance Championships
Wout Wagtmans was one of the most popular Dutch cyclists of the 1950s. Equally successful on the road and on the track, he stood out for his daring, power and enthusiasm during races.
In 1954, he took part in the Dutch Middle-Distance Track Championships, contested over a distance of 100 kilometres. He finished second behind Jan Pronk, who was crowned national champion in the discipline.
The item on display is the medal awarded to Wout Wagtmans for this second-place finish. The reverse bears the inscription ‘Kampioenschap van Nederland’, accompanied by the words ‘100 km achter motoren’, ‘W. Wagtmans’, ‘2nd prize’ and the year 1954.
The Dutch expression ‘achter motoren’ refers to the middle-distance race behind motorbikes. In this spectacular discipline, each cyclist follows a pacemaker riding a powerful, specially equipped motorbike. The aerodynamic slipstream thus created enables very high speeds to be reached.
The obverse of the medal is adorned with the crowned lion of the Netherlands, holding a sword and a bundle of arrows. The design, set against a blue enamel background, is surrounded by the name of the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Wielren Unie, the Royal Dutch Cycling Federation.
The medal, crafted from a bronze-patinated metal, features a suspension ring. Its official design and personalised inscription identify it as an award directly linked to Wout Wagtmans’s performance.
The 1954 season was particularly remarkable for the Dutch rider. He also finished second in the national road championship, won two stages of the Giro d’Italia and claimed a stage victory in the Tour de France. He also wore the yellow jersey for several days.
The photograph accompanying the item shows Wout Wagtmans in the colours of the Locomotief-Vredestein team. His portrait serves as a reminder of the versatility of a champion capable of excelling in the Grand Tours as well as in the gruelling time trials.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this medal bears witness to Wout Wagtmans’ second-place finish in the 1954 Dutch middle-distance championship and to his talent across the various disciplines of cycling.
ITEM N° 334
WAGTMANS Wout (NL)
(10.11.1929 – 15.08.1994)
His silver medal at the 1954 Dutch Road Championships
Born on 10 November 1929 in Rucphen, Wout Wagtmans was one of the most popular figures in Dutch cycling in the 1950s. His attacking style, fighting spirit and enthusiasm enabled him to excel on both the road and the track.
On 16 May 1954, he finished second in the Dutch Road Championships. The title went to Adrie Voorting, whilst Gerrit Voorting completed the podium.
The item on display is the medal awarded to Wout Wagtmans for this second-place finish. The reverse bears the inscription ‘Kampioenschap van Nederland’, accompanied by the words ‘Weg 198 km’, ‘W. Wagtmans’, ‘2e prijs’ and the year 1954.
The obverse is adorned with the crowned lion of the Netherlands holding a sword and a bundle of arrows. This national symbol, set against a blue enamel background, is surrounded by the name of the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Wielren Unie, the Royal Dutch Cycling Federation. Crafted from a bronze-patinated metal, the medal features particularly fine detailing. The inscription bearing his name and the distance of 198 kilometres allow it to be directly linked to Wout Wagtmans’s performance.
This second-place finish was part of a particularly brilliant 1954 season. Wagtmans won two stages of the Giro d’Italia as well as a stage of the Tour de France, where he wore the yellow jersey for several days. He also finished second in the national middle-distance track championship.
The central portrait shows the cyclist in the thick of the race, with a bouquet of flowers resting on his shoulder. The photograph, accompanied by his signature, conveys his charisma and popularity with the Dutch public.
This medal completes a collection of honours that bears witness to Wout Wagtmans’ remarkable consistency in the national championships. Between 1950 and 1955, he stood on the podium on several occasions at the Dutch Road Championships.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, it commemorates Wout Wagtmans’ second place at the 1954 Dutch Road Championships and a major season in his career.
