The trophies - 26
ITEM N° 218
NIJDAM Jelle (NL)
(16.08.1963)
His trophy for winning the 1988 Amstel Gold Race
Jelle Nijdam is a former Dutch professional cyclist. The son of champion Henk Nijdam, he turned professional in 1984 and continued his career until 1996.
An excellent all-rounder, a powerful attacker and a prologue specialist, he excelled in both stage races and major one-day events. His attacking style and finishing ability earned him the nickname ‘Snelle Jelle’, meaning ‘Fast Jelle’.
Jelle Nijdam competed in ten Tours de France. He won six stages and wore the yellow jersey for three days. He also won a stage of the Vuelta a España in 1992 and claimed the general classification of the Tour of the Netherlands on three occasions. His list of victories includes, notably, Paris–Tours and Paris–Brussels in 1989, the Three Days of La Panne in 1991, as well as two victories in Across Belgium. These results demonstrate the remarkable versatility of a rider capable of winning time trials, breakaway finishes or the classics.
On 23 April 1988, Jelle Nijdam lined up at the start of the 23rd edition of the Amstel Gold Race, a 242-kilometre race between Heerlen and Meerssen. Riding for the Superconfex-Yoko team, he led the race for nearly 190 kilometres. He secured victory after a long attack, marking one of the greatest successes of his career.
The item on display is the trophy awarded to Jelle Nijdam for his victory in the 1988 Amstel Gold Race. It takes the form of an imposing dark metal cup, featuring two ornate handles and topped with a lid. A small figurine depicting a cyclist crowns the ensemble and serves as a direct reminder of the sport being celebrated. The cup rests on a slender stem attached to a rectangular plinth. The plaque affixed to the plinth bears an inscription identifying Jelle Nijdam as the winner of the race in 1988. The photograph on the right shows the champion holding this cup. It serves as a valuable document of provenance and establishes a direct link between the object on display, its original owner and the victory it commemorates.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy perpetuates the memory of an exceptional breakaway and one of Jelle Nijdam’s finest achievements. It bears witness to the career of a well-rounded, fast and daring rider, whose name remains associated with the history of the Amstel Gold Race.
ITEM N° 220
OCKERS Stan (B) (03.02.1920 – 01.10.1956)
The ‘Stan Ockers’ Trophy of the Côte des Forges
Born on 3 February 1920 in Borgerhout, near Antwerp, Stan Ockers was a Belgian cyclist who turned professional between 1941 and 1956. A consistently strong, resilient and fast rider, he excelled in both the classics and the major stage races.
Finishing second in the Tour de France in 1950 and 1952, he won three stages as well as the points classification in 1955 and 1956. His list of victories also includes two Flèche Wallonne titles, in 1953 and 1955, and Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 1955. That same year, he became world road champion in Frascati, Italy.
Stan Ockers died tragically on 1 October 1956, aged just 36, following a fall on the track at the Palais des Sports in Antwerp. His death caused a great stir in the world of Belgian cycling.
In 1957, a memorial was unveiled in his honour at the summit of the Côte des Forges in Gomzé-Andoumont. Situated on the traditional route of Liège–Bastogne–Liège, this monument commemorates his triumph in the ‘Doyenne’ in 1955.
The item on display is the ‘Stan Ockers’ trophy for the Côte des Forges, awarded to the Dutch cyclist Joop Zoetemelk during the 1973 Flèche Wallonne. It does not recognise the overall victory – which was claimed that year by André Dierickx – but rather a particular feat achieved during the race.
Carved from wood, the trophy depicts Stan Ockers in the throes of the race, his torso leaning forwards in a posture characteristic of a cyclist. The realism of the face and the dynamic pose pay tribute to the courage and determination of the Belgian champion. The work rests on a rectangular plinth fitted with a commemorative plaque. The photograph showing Joop Zoetemelk with this trophy is a valuable document of provenance and directly links the object to its former owner.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this sculpture keeps alive the memory of Stan Ockers, a leading figure in Belgian cycling and a hero of the Ardennes classics.
ITEM N° 226
OLANO MANZANO Abraham (E)
(22.01.1970)
His 1998 Vuelta general classification trophy
Born on 22 January 1970 in Anoeta, in the Spanish Basque Country, Abraham Olano is a former professional cyclist. An excellent road rider and time trial specialist, he competed at the highest level from 1992 to 2002.
His honours include, notably, the 1995 World Road Cycling Championship title, won ahead of Miguel Indurain and Marco Pantani. A silver medallist in the time trial at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, he also became world champion in this discipline in 1998. He finished on the podium twice at the Giro d’Italia and came fourth in the 1997 Tour de France.
During the 1998 Vuelta, Olano rode for the Banesto team. He won the first individual time trial, held in Alcúdia, and claimed the yellow jersey. Struggling in the mountain stages, he temporarily lost the overall lead to his team-mate José María Jiménez. On the eve of the final stage, Olano turned the situation around during the time trial in Fuenlabrada. Thanks to his power and mastery of solo riding, he reclaimed the yellow jersey and won the Vuelta a España ahead of Fernando Escartín and José María Jiménez. This victory was the greatest success of his career in a major stage race.
The item on display is a trophy presented to Abraham Olano whilst he was the leader of the 1998 Vuelta. Modern in design, it consists of a large silver-coloured metal cup with curved lines. Its central section is adorned with a medallion bearing the ‘Aguila Amstel’ emblem, a partner of the event.
The trophy rests on an imposing black marble plinth veined with white, fitted with a commemorative plaque. Photographs of Abraham Olano wearing the yellow jersey place this object in context and serve as a reminder of his triumph on the roads of Spain.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy keeps alive the memory of a great time-trial specialist and his victory in the 1998 Vuelta.
