The print media - 5

The Cycling Museum takes centre stage in the book *Le beau vélo de RAVeL*

This article, taken from the book *Le beau vélo de RAVeL* by Adrien Joveneau and David Houdret, published by Éditions Labor in 2000, presents the Cycling Museum in Lavaux-Sainte-Anne and the impressive collection assembled by Noël Grégoire. The authors emphasise that the museum does not merely recount the technical evolution of the bicycle: above all, it pays tribute to the riders and the glorious moments in cycling competition.

Noël Grégoire recounts the passion that has driven him since childhood. A carpenter by trade, he designed the display cases and frames himself to showcase the items he has collected over the years. Thanks to an extensive correspondence with Belgian and international champions, he has been able to gather autographed photographs, jerseys, bicycles, medals and numerous memorabilia that once belonged to the greatest names in cycling.

The article highlights several remarkable items, notably a Paris–Roubaix trophy won in 1921 by Henri Pélissier, a medal donated by Léon Scieur, Louison Bobet’s French champion’s jersey, a trophy commemorating Raymond Poulidor’s victory in the 1964 Vuelta a España, and one of the last jerseys worn by ‘Poupou ’. Special attention is also given to Fausto Coppi, Gino Bartali, Antonin Magne and Eddy Merckx, whose bicycle, used in 1977, is among the museum’s most significant exhibits.

Beyond the exhibits themselves, this collection highlights the painstaking research carried out to track down certain memorabilia and trace their history. Each item thus bears witness to an era, a sporting feat or a human encounter. Through his museum, Noël Grégoire pursues a key objective: to preserve the memory of the champions and pass on the passion and values of cycling’s history to future generations.

16 January 2004 – ‘Heading for Blegny-Mine’

Published in the newspaper *La Meuse* on 16 January 2004, this article by Johnny Maghe announced the forthcoming transfer of the collections of the Lavaux-Sainte-Anne Cycling Museum to the Blegny-Mine site, in the province of Liège. This decision marked an important milestone in the history of the museum, which was inaugurated in 1997 by Noël Grégoire.

After several years of research and acquisitions, the building in Lavaux-Sainte-Anne had become too small to house all the memorabilia that had been gathered: trophies, bicycles, jerseys, signed photographs, autographs, magazines and personal items that had belonged to great champions. The move to Blegny-Mine was intended to preserve these collections and display them to the public in a larger and more suitable space.

The official announcement took place in the presence of Paul Bolland, then governor of the province of Liège, and Jean-Marie Leblanc, director of the Société du Tour de France. In the article, the latter emphasised the authentic and valuable nature of the collection, a true testament to the heritage and history of cycling. Several former cycling greats, including Gilbert Letecheur, Théo Mathy, Bim Diederich, Alex Close, Pino Cerami and Ferdinand Bracke, had also expressed their support for the project.

The photograph accompanying the report shows Noël Grégoire presenting his collections to Jean-Marie Leblanc and Paul Bolland. It bears witness to the interest shown in the museum by sports officials and public representatives. Despite the emotion surrounding the move away from Lavaux-Sainte-Anne, Noël Grégoire wished to continue expanding the collections and keeping alive the memory of the champions who have written the finest chapters in the history of cycling.