The medals and plaques - 2
ITEM N°568
BRACKE Ferdinand (B)
(25.05.1939)
His silver medal from the 1972 World Championships in the pursuit
Ferdinand Bracke is a former Belgian cyclist whose professional career spanned from 1962 to 1978. An excellent rider, he successfully pursued a dual career on the track and on the road.
Bracke established himself very early on as one of the leading specialists in the pursuit. He became the professional world champion in this discipline in 1964, then won a second world title in 1969 in Antwerp, where he caught up with his British rival Hugh Porter during the final.
He also made history on 30 October 1967 in Rome by setting the world hour record at 48.093 kilometres. This performance made him the first cyclist to officially break the 48-kilometre barrier.
In 1972, Ferdinand Bracke faced Hugh Porter once again in the final of the professional world pursuit championship held at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. The Belgian held the lead for much of the race, but the Briton fought back in the final laps to claim his third world title. Bracke took the silver medal ahead of his compatriot Dirk Baert.
The item on display is precisely this 1972 World Championship silver medal, a testament to one of the many international duels contested by Ferdinand Bracke on the velodromes. On its obverse, the medal bears the inscriptions ‘Championnats du Monde’ and ‘Poursuite Professionnels 1972’. Two silhouettes of track cyclists are depicted facing each other, evoking the principle of the individual pursuit. The reverse bears the inscription ‘Union Cycliste Internationale’, accompanied by several flags and the indication ‘2nd’, corresponding to the position achieved by the Belgian champion. It is suspended from an imposing pleated ribbon in various colours.
The press article reproduced on the left recounts the final in Marseille and Hugh Porter’s revenge over Ferdinand Bracke. The photograph in the bottom right-hand corner shows Ferdinand Bracke in September 1997, during his visit to the Cycling Museum. He is seen signing the guest book, a gesture also captured in the dedication reproduced above the image. These documents reinforce the historical and personal value of the collection as a whole.
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ITEM N° 569
BRACKE Ferdinand (B)
(25.05.1939)
His gold medal from the 1969 World Championships in the team pursuit
Born on 25 May 1939 in Hamme, Ferdinand Bracke is a former Belgian cyclist who turned professional in 1962 and retired in 1978. A specialist in solo efforts, he belongs to the select group of champions who excelled both on the velodrome and in major stage races.
He won his first professional world pursuit title in 1964. He then confirmed his consistency at the highest level by winning two world silver medals, in 1965 and 1966.
In 1969, the Track World Championships were held at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp. In front of a Belgian crowd, Ferdinand Bracke dominated the professional pursuit and faced Britain’s Hugh Porter in the final. Setting off at a particularly fast pace, Bracke quickly opened up a gap and caught up with his opponent after approximately 2.450 kilometres. This spectacular victory earned him his second world pursuit title, five years after his first in 1964.
At the same time, the champion continued his road racing career. Notably, he won stages of the Tour de France in 1966 and 1976, before claiming the overall classification of the 1971 Vuelta a España, the most significant road victory of his career.
The item on display is the gold medal awarded to Ferdinand Bracke for his 1969 professional pursuit world title. The obverse bears the inscriptions ‘Championnats du Monde’, ‘Poursuite Professionnels’ and ‘1969’. The reverse is adorned with the inscription ‘Union Cycliste Internationale’, as well as two flags featuring the colours of the rainbow, the traditional emblem of the World Cycling Championships. The inscription ‘1st prize’ confirms that this is indeed the award presented to the winner. The medal hangs from a wide pleated ribbon comprising green, yellow, black, red and blue stripes. These colours echo those of the rainbow jersey awarded to world champions.
With its design, inscriptions and multicoloured ribbon, this medal stands as an exceptional testament to Ferdinand Bracke’s second world title in the professional team pursuit, won five years after his first victory in 1964.
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ITEM N° 042
BRANKART Jean (B)
(12.07.1930 – 23.07.2020)
Plaque of recognition awarded by the City of Tournai in 1955
Born on 12 July 1930 in Momalle, Jean Brankart was a Belgian professional cyclist from 1953 to 1960. A all-rounder, climber and time-trial specialist, he was one of the finest Belgian cyclists of the 1950s. L’Équipe notes that he competed in six Tours de France and won two stages.
He achieved the greatest performance of his career during the 1955 Tour de France, where he finished second in the general classification, just 4 minutes 53 seconds behind the Frenchman Louison Bobet. This remarkable season also included a time trial victory at the Tour de Suisse, a third place in Liège–Bastogne–Liège and several top finishes in major international races. Brankart thus confirmed his qualities as an all-round rider, capable of excelling both in the mountains and in time trials.
In 1958, he finished second in the Giro d’Italia and won the mountains classification. He also secured several Belgian pursuit championship titles and won a medal at the Track World Championships in 1959. His career came to an end in 1960 following heart problems. He died in Liège on 23 July 2020, a few days after celebrating his ninetieth birthday.
The item on display is a commemorative plaque presented to Jean Brankart by the City of Tournai on 5 August 1955, a few days after his exceptional Tour de France. On that same date, Tournai hosted a prestigious post-Tour criterium bringing together several of the era’s greatest champions. Preserved in its rectangular case, the plaque bears, on one side, an honorary inscription designating Jean Brankart as a ‘brilliant road cyclist’. The date 5 August 1955 is engraved on it, giving this object precise documentary value. The other side is adorned with a relief scene depicting a seated woman holding a bird, set against a landscape evoking the town and its activities. The coat of arms of Tournai appears at the top, highlighting the official and municipal nature of this honour. The accompanying photographs show the champion during his career and alongside Noël Grégoire.
This commemorative plaque is a valuable testament to the popularity Jean Brankart enjoyed in the wake of the 1955 Tour de France.
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