The trophies - 16
ITEM N° 111
FONDRIEST Maurizio (I)
(15.01.1965)
His trophy for winning the Avezzano–Castel di Lama stage of the 1993 Tirreno–Adriatico
Born on 15 January 1965 in Cles, in Trentino, Maurizio Fondriest is a former Italian professional cyclist. A professional from 1987 to 1998, he stood out for his skills as a puncheur and a all-rounder, which proved particularly effective in the classics and week-long stage races.
In just his second professional season, he became road world champion in Renaix, Belgium, in 1988. This victory enabled him to wear the prestigious rainbow jersey throughout the following season.
Fondriest also won the World Cup in 1991, but it was in 1993 that he enjoyed the most remarkable season of his career. Riding for the Lampre-Polti team, he won, notably, Milan–San Remo, the Flèche Wallonne, the Zurich Championship and the Tour of Emilia. He also won the Grand Prix du Midi Libre, a stage of the Giro d’Italia and, for the second time, the overall World Cup classification.
In March 1993, the Italian dominated the Tirreno–Adriatico, winning two stages as well as the overall classification. His victory on the stage between Avezzano and Castel di Lama, secured on 13 March ahead of Jesper Skibby and Andrei Tchmil, saw him take the lead in the race.
The item on display is the trophy awarded for this stage victory. It is an imposing silver-plated metal cup, comprising a wide bowl, two curved handles and a lid surmounted by a small decorative figure. A plaque on the base commemorates the race and Maurizio Fondriest’s victory. The photograph on the left shows the Italian champion crossing the finish line in triumph at Castel di Lama. The one on the right depicts the meeting organised in 1996, during which Maurizio Fondriest presented the collector with this trophy as well as one of his world champion’s jerseys.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, these photographs and the trophy thus preserve the memory of a landmark victory and an exceptional year in Maurizio Fondriest’s career.
ITEM N° 117
FUENTE José Manuel (E)
(30.09.1945 – 18.07.1996)
His trophy for winning the King of the Mountains classification at the 1974 Giro d’Italia
Born on 30 September 1945 in Limanes, Asturias, José Manuel Fuente was one of the finest Spanish climbers of his generation. Nicknamed ‘El Tarangu’, he enjoyed a professional career from 1970 to 1976, characterised by his attacking style and spectacular mountain attacks.
He won the overall classification of the Vuelta a España twice, in 1972 and 1974. He also triumphed in the 1973 Tour de Suisse and finished third in the Tour de France that same year.
The Giro d’Italia holds a key place in his list of achievements. Fuente won nine stages there and claimed the King of the Mountains classification for four consecutive years, from 1971 to 1974 – a remarkable feat that confirmed his exceptional ability to tackle major mountain passes.
During the 1974 Giro, the Spaniard once again proved himself to be particularly combative. He wore the pink jersey for several days and launched repeated attacks against Eddy Merckx. Despite a major setback during the race, he continued his attacks, finished fifth in the general classification and claimed the final mountains classification.
The item on display is the trophy awarded to José Manuel Fuente for his victory in the King of the Mountains classification at the 1974 Giro d’Italia. It commemorates his fourth consecutive success in this classification and represents one of the most brilliant periods of his career. The trophy consists of a multi-tiered gilded cup, mounted on a slender pedestal. The rectangular base, also crafted from a warm-coloured stone, is adorned with a small cyclist in relief and a commemorative plaque. A handwritten letter on Deportes Fuente letterhead, dated 23 May 1988, also accompanies the item. This document bears witness to the correspondence exchanged with the Spanish champion and helps to establish the provenance of the trophy, catalogued in the collection under the number N.G. 117.
Through its history and provenance, this object pays tribute to a daring rider who turned the major mountain stages into true duels and remained one of Eddy Merckx’s main rivals on the roads of the Giro.
ITEM N° 122
GÉRARDIN Louis « Toto » (F)
(12.08.1912 – 23.05.1982)
His 1930 Amateur World Sprint Championship trophy
Born on 12 August 1912 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Louis Gérardin was a former French cyclist who specialised in track sprint events. Nicknamed ‘Toto’, he was one of the leading figures in French cycling during the 1930s and 1940s.
Blessed with remarkable burst speed, he made a name for himself on the velodromes at a very young age. His spectacular style, power and tactical acumen enabled him to compete with the best European sprinters of his era.
In 1930, aged just eighteen, Louis Gérardin won the Amateur World Sprint Championship. This victory marked the first major success of his career and opened the doors to professional cycling. Over the following years, he established himself firmly amongst the international elite on the track. A multiple French sprint champion and a regular in the top rankings at major competitions, he became one of the most popular riders of his generation.
The item on display is the trophy commemorating his title as amateur world sprint champion, won in 1930. It takes the form of an imposing sculpted bust depicting a young man whose head is encircled by laurel leaves, the traditional symbol of victory and sporting glory. The expressive rendering of the face, the stylised hair and the metallic patina lend the work a particularly monumental presence. The bust rests on a heavy stone plinth bearing a plaque commemorating the championship won by Louis Gérardin. The photograph on the left shows Mrs Gérardin at the trophy presentation in Paris in 1992. This gesture helped to preserve and pass on a significant memento of the career of the man affectionately nicknamed ‘Toto’ by the public.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy keeps alive the memory of Louis Gérardin’s first major success. It bears witness to the early rise of a young sprinter who went on to become one of the iconic figures of French track cycling.
