The trophies - 2
ITEM N° 452
AESCHLIMANN Georges (CH)
(11.01.1920 – 10.11.2010)
His trophy awarded for his third place and his title as the top foreign rider in the 1947 Tour of Catalonia
Born on 11 January 1920 in Frinvillier, in the canton of Bern, and died on 1 November 2010 in La Neuveville, Georges Aeschlimann was a former Swiss professional cyclist. A professional during the 1940s and early 1950s, he distinguished himself mainly in stage races.
His list of achievements includes, notably, a stage victory and second place in the general classification of the Tour de Suisse. He also won Belfort–Mulhouse–Belfort in 1946 and Porrentruy–Zurich in 1949. Georges Aeschlimann competed in several Grand Tours. In the 1951 Tour de France, he finished twenty-fourth and contributed to the success of his compatriot and team leader Hugo Koblet.
In September 1947, he took part in the 27th edition of the Tour of Catalonia. Contested over nine stages covering 1,357 kilometres, the race was won by the Spaniard Emilio Rodríguez ahead of Miquel Gual. Georges Aeschlimann finished third in the general classification. As the top foreign rider in the race, he received a special trophy in recognition of this remarkable performance against the finest riders in Spanish cycling.
The item on display is the trophy awarded to Georges Aeschlimann for his third place in the 1947 Tour of Catalonia and his status as the top foreign rider. Crafted from silver-coloured metal, the cup has a rounded body topped by a lid decorated with a flame-shaped motif. Two large, elegantly curved handles frame the central section.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy commemorates Georges Aeschlimann’s third-place finish in the 1947 Tour of Catalonia. Its inscription, along with the accompanying photographs and dedications, make it a valuable testament to post-war Swiss cycling.
ITEM N° 524
ARNAUD Dominique (F)
(19.09.1955 – 20.07.2016)
His trophy for winning the Camprodon–Vic stage of the 1986 Tour of Catalonia
Born on 19 September 1955 in Tarnos, in the Landes region, and died on 20 July 2016 in Dax, Dominique Arnaud was a former French professional cyclist. A professional from 1980 to 1991, he was admired for his stamina, his attacking style and his skills as a team player.
During his career, he rode for teams including Puch-Wolber, La Vie Claire, Reynolds and Banesto. He took part in eleven consecutive editions of the Tour de France, from 1981 to 1991. His honours include the general classification of the Tour du Limousin in 1983, the Grand Prix de Rennes in the same year and three stage wins in the Vuelta a España, achieved in 1980, 1982 and 1987.
In 1986, Dominique Arnaud rode for the Spanish team Reynolds. On 14 September, he won the first half-stage of the fifth day of the Tour of Catalonia, contested between Camprodon and Vic. The Frenchman completed the 87.6-kilometre route in 1 hour, 58 minutes and 50 seconds. This victory was his greatest success of the 1986 season.
The item on display is the trophy awarded to Dominique Arnaud for his victory in the Camprodon–Vic stage of the 1986 Tour of Catalonia. The silver-coloured metal cup has a rounded body topped by a lid and a decorative flame-shaped motif. Two finely crafted handles frame its upper section. Its long stem rests on an imposing circular base of a dark red colour. A commemorative plaque refers to the municipality of Vic, the stage route, the Tour of Catalonia and the date of 14 September 1986.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy commemorates Dominique Arnaud’s victory between Camprodon and Vic. Its plaque, the statuettes and the accompanying documents make it a direct testament to the 1986 Tour of Catalonia.
ITEM N° 010
BAFFI Adriano (I)
(07.08.1962)
His winner’s trophy from the 1990 Trofeo Pantalica
Born on 7 August 1962 in Vailate, Lombardy, Adriano Baffi is a former Italian cyclist. The son of champion Pierino Baffi, he distinguished himself as a sprinter, both on the road and on the track, before turning professional in 1985.
His list of achievements includes five stage wins in the Giro d’Italia: two in 1990 and three in 1993. During that latter edition, he also won the points classification. He also claimed victory in a stage of the Vuelta a España in 1995 and in Paris–Camembert in 1996.
On 24 February 1990, riding for the Ceramiche Ariostea team, Adriano Baffi won the 16th edition of the Trofeo Pantalica. Covering 197 kilometres between Sortino and Syracuse in Sicily, the race concluded with his victory ahead of the Belgian Jozef Lieckens and the Soviet rider Asiat Saitov.
The main item on display is the trophy awarded to Adriano Baffi for this victory. The trophy has an original sculptural form. It depicts a winged female figure, her arm raised and holding a crown, in a pose evoking victory. The statuette rests on a series of rectangular plinths bearing a commemorative plaque. The photograph on the right shows Adriano Baffi holding this very trophy. It serves as a valuable piece of provenance evidence, enabling the object to be directly linked to the cyclist and his success in the Trofeo Pantalica.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy preserves the memory of Adriano Baffi’s victory in the 1990 Trofeo Pantalica. The accompanying photographs reinforce its authenticity and make it a testament directly linked to the Italian sprinter’s career.
