The trophies - 14
ITEM N° 086
DEKKER Erik (NL)
(21.08.1970)
His winner’s trophy from the sixth stage of the 2001 Tour of the Netherlands, between Blerick and Landgraaf
Born on 21 August 1970 in Hoogeveen, Erik Dekker is a former Dutch professional cyclist. Enduring, aggressive and possessing excellent tactical awareness, he excelled primarily in the classics and short stage races.
In 1992, whilst still an amateur, he won the silver medal in the road race at the Barcelona Olympic Games. He turned professional that same year and spent the bulk of his career with the Dutch Rabobank team.
Erik Dekker particularly excelled in the Tour de France, where he won four stages between 2000 and 2001. He also won the Clásica de San Sebastián in 2000, the Amstel Gold Race in 2001 and Tirreno–Adriatico in 2002. The year 2001 marked one of the high points of his career. Thanks to his numerous results in major international races, he won the overall World Cup classification.
During the 2001 Tour of the Netherlands, he won the sixth and final stage, contested between Blerick and Landgraaf. The accompanying photograph shows him crossing the finish line with his arms raised, wearing the Dutch national champion’s jersey.
The item on display is the trophy awarded to Erik Dekker for this stage victory. It takes the form of a stylised sculpture depicting a cyclist leaning over his handlebars. Crafted from a metal with a patinated finish, the rider’s silhouette is composed of curved, streamlined lines. The two circular wheels and the movement of the body immediately evoke the speed and effort of cycling. The whole piece rests on a rectangular plinth bearing a plaque inscribed with ‘Eneco Ronde van Nederland 2001’. The photograph on the left shows Erik Dekker personally holding this award, establishing a direct link between the rider and the object.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy preserves the memory of a victory achieved during Erik Dekker’s finest season. It bears witness to the talent and consistency of one of the leading Dutch cyclists of the early 2000s.
ITEM N° 098
DESMET Gilbert (B)
(03.02.1931 – 30.06.2024)
His trophy for winning the 1964 Flèche Wallonne
Born on 3 February 1931 in Roeselare, West Flanders, Gilbert Desmet is a former Belgian cyclist. A professional from 1952 to 1967, he stood out for his consistency, his stamina and his ability to excel in both the classics and stage races.
Nicknamed ‘Smetje van Lichtervelde’, he competed in eight Tours de France. He wore the yellow jersey in 1956 and then for nine days in 1963, the year in which he finished fourth in the general classification. His list of victories includes, notably, Paris–Tours in 1958, the Four Days of Dunkirk in 1964, as well as numerous wins on Belgian and French roads. He established himself as one of the most consistent riders of his generation.
On 4 May 1964, Gilbert Desmet won the Flèche Wallonne, which was then contested between Liège and Charleroi. He outsprinted his breakaway companions, including the German Rudi Altig, and added his name to the list of winners of one of the major Ardennes classics.
The item on display is the trophy commemorating this victory at the 1964 Flèche Wallonne. It takes the form of a metal bas-relief depicting a cyclist in the thick of the action, leaning over his bike. The rider’s movement and the lines suggesting speed lend the work a sense of power and dynamism. The inscription ‘FLÈCHE WALLONNE’, situated at the bottom, directly identifies the race. The relief is mounted on a solid base with irregular contours. Its golden patina and sculptural design set this award apart from the traditional trophies usually presented to winners.
The photograph above shows Gilbert Desmet and his wife Marie at the presentation of the trophy on 30 August 1999. A handwritten dedication dated the previous day commemorates his victory and accompanies the transfer of this historic memento to the collection.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy preserves the memory of one of Gilbert Desmet’s greatest achievements. It bears witness to the career of a well-rounded cyclist, capable of wearing the yellow jersey at the Tour de France and triumphing in a major Ardennes classic.
ITEM N° 360
DHAENENS Rudy (B)
(10.04.1961 – 06.04.1998)
His winner’s trophy from the 1990 Berlin Criterium
Born on 10 April 1961 in Deinze, East Flanders, Rudy Dhaenens is a former Belgian professional cyclist. A professional from 1983 to 1992, he stood out for his courage, his stamina and his keen preference for gruelling races.
A dedicated team player but also a formidable classics rider, he achieved several significant results on the roads of the North. Notably, he won Gent–Wevelgem in 1987 and finished on the podium twice at Paris–Roubaix. He reached the pinnacle of his career in 1990 at the Road World Championships held in Utsunomiya, Japan. Having broken away with his compatriot Dirk De Wolf, Rudy Dhaenens outpaced him in the sprint to claim the rainbow jersey. This victory gave Belgium a memorable one-two finish and earned Dhaenens the title of Belgian Sportsman of the Year. It transformed this reliable team-mate into one of the most popular figures in Belgian cycling.
During the same season, Rudy Dhaenens won a criterium held in Berlin. These races, contested in front of large crowds, allowed cycling enthusiasts to get up close to the leading champions following their successes in major international competitions.
The item on display is the trophy awarded to Rudy Dhaenens for his victory in the 1990 Berlin criterium. It takes the traditional form of a large German ceramic tankard, topped with a hinged metal lid. Its central design depicts a wooded landscape in bright colours. The vessel is also adorned with relief friezes, a wide handle and inscriptions likely referring to Berlin and the year of the competition.
The photograph shown on the right depicts Rudy Dhaenens with Sean Kelly in Régnié, in the Beaujolais region, in 1998. It adds a personal and touching dimension to the presentation of the Belgian champion.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy preserves the memory of a victory achieved during the most prestigious year of Rudy Dhaenens’ career. It evokes the fate of a world champion who died prematurely just a few days before his thirty-seventh birthday.
