The medals & plaques - 5
ITEM N°378
CERAMI Pino (B)
(28.04.1922 – 20.09.2014)
The ‘Prix de l’effort sportif’ medal awarded in 1960
Born on 28 April 1922 in Misterbianco, Sicily, Giuseppe ‘Pino’ Cerami moved to Belgium at a very young age. He turned professional in 1946 and became a Belgian citizen in 1956, going on to build a remarkable career characterised by consistency, courage and great longevity.
After several strong seasons, he won the Tour of Belgium in 1957. The year 1960 marked the peak of his career: at the age of 38, he won both Paris–Roubaix and the Flèche Wallonne in quick succession, two of the most prestigious classics on the calendar. A few months later, Pino Cerami took the bronze medal at the World Road Championships held at the Sachsenring in East Germany. He finished behind the Belgian Rik Van Looy and the Frenchman André Darrigade. Cerami continued his brilliant career by winning Paris–Brussels and the Flèche Brabançonne in 1961. In 1963, at the age of over 41, he went on to win the Bordeaux–Pau stage of the Tour de France, becoming the oldest stage winner of the post-war era.
The medal on display was awarded to him on 15 April 1960 as part of the Prix de l’Effort Sportif. This award pays tribute to the perseverance, courage and remarkable longevity of the Belgian champion of Italian origin. Preserved in its original blue case, the bronze medal depicts a seated athlete holding a winged statuette. It bears the signature of the medallist Éraphon and comes from the Brussels-based firm P. De Greef, located on Rue du Midi.
The photographs show Pino Cerami riding for the Peugeot team, circa 1960. They serve as a reminder of the determination of a rider who was highly respected within the peloton and capable of winning the greatest classics at an age when many had already retired from competition.
Pino Cerami, who passed away on 20 September 2014, remains a particularly endearing figure in Belgian cycling. The Grand Prix Pino Cerami, held in Hainaut, continues to honour his memory to this day.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this medal bears witness to the recognition accorded to a champion whose tenacity, loyalty to cycling and sporting longevity were exceptional.
ITEM N° 379
CERAMI Pino (B)
(28.03.1922 – 20.09.2014)
Plaque presented by Belgian Radio and Television in 1960
Giuseppe ‘Pino’ Cerami arrived in Belgium at a very young age. Having turned professional in the aftermath of the Second World War, he gradually built a reputation as a courageous, consistent and particularly resilient cyclist.
He became a naturalised Belgian citizen in 1956 and won the Tour of Belgium the following year. Often finishing well in the major classics, Cerami reached the peak of his career in 1960, at the age of 38.
This exceptional season saw him triumph in Paris–Roubaix and then in the Flèche Wallonne. He rounded off his remarkable annual record with a bronze medal at the World Road Championships, behind Rik Van Looy and André Darrigade. Cerami further proved his worth by winning Paris–Brussels and the Flèche Brabançonne in 1961. Two years later, at the age of 41 years and three months, he won the Bordeaux–Pau stage of the Tour de France, becoming the oldest stage winner of the post-war era.
The plaque shown here was presented to Pino Cerami by the R.T.B. – Belgian Radio and Television – in honour of his exceptional performances in 1960. Crafted from gilded metal, it bears the inscription ‘Palmarès du Sport – R.T.B. – Année 1960’. Its design features a studio television camera, symbolising the growing role played by this medium in popularising cycling. Pino Cerami’s name appears at the bottom of the plaque. This personalisation makes it a memento directly associated with the champion and the media recognition generated by his brilliant season.
The photographs surrounding the object show Cerami in the heat of competition whilst riding for Peugeot, and then many years later. They thus draw a parallel between the victorious rider and the man who remained loyal to the world of cycling.
Pino Cerami, who passed away on 20 September 2014, is remembered as a remarkable classics specialist, admired for his tenacity and his exceptional sporting longevity.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this R.T.B. brochure preserves the memory of the 1960 season, which established Pino Cerami as one of the great figures of Belgian cycling.
ITEM N° 652
CERAMI Pino (B)
(28.03.1922 – 20.09.2014)
His winner’s medal from the 1961 Flèche Brabançonne
Born on 28 March 1922 in Misterbianco, Sicily, Giuseppe ‘Pino’ Cerami arrived in Belgium at a very young age. Turning professional shortly after the Second World War, he distinguished himself through his stamina, consistency and skills as a classics rider.
Having become a naturalised Belgian citizen in 1956, Cerami won the Tour of Belgium in 1957. After several top-three finishes in major international races, he enjoyed an exceptional season in 1960. At the age of 38, he won Paris–Roubaix and then the Flèche Wallonne. He also claimed the bronze medal at the World Road Championships, behind Rik Van Looy and André Darrigade. Pino Cerami continued his fine form in 1961. He won Paris–Brussels as well as the Flèche Brabançonne, contested between Brussels and Alsemberg. This victory cemented his place amongst the finest classics specialists of his era. Two years later, he finished second in Liège–Bastogne–Liège and won the Bordeaux–Pau stage of the Tour de France. Aged 41 years and three months, he became the oldest stage winner of the post-war era.
The medal on display commemorates his victory in the 1961 Brabantse Pijl. It is housed in a case lined with red velvet and bears, on its base, a plaque engraved in Dutch: ‘Winnaar Brabantse Pijl 1961 – Pino Cerami’. Its design depicts three riders in the thick of the race, with the one in the centre crossing the finish line as the winner. This relief scene directly evokes the intensity of the competition and Cerami’s triumph.
The photograph on the right shows Pino and his wife Claire at the presentation of several medals from their personal collection.
Pino Cerami, who passed away on 20 September 2014, is remembered as a courageous and endearing cyclist with an exceptionally long sporting career. Since 1964, a professional race held in Hainaut has borne his name.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this medal preserves the memory of his victory in the 1961 Flèche Brabançonne and bears witness to the generosity of Pino Cerami and his wife in passing on their sporting legacy.
