The trophies - 29
ITEMS N° 241 & 242
PIJNEN René (NL) (03.09.1946)
His commemorative plate and laurel wreath from the 100-kilometre team time trial at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games
Born on 3 September 1946 in Woensdrecht, René Pijnen is a former Dutch cyclist. A track specialist, he went on to become one of the greatest Six-Day riders of his generation.
On 15 October 1968, at the Mexico City Olympic Games, René Pijnen competed in the 100-kilometre team time trial. Teaming up with Fedor den Hertog, Jan Krekels and Joop Zoetemelk, he won the gold medal for the Netherlands. The four Dutch riders clocked a time of 2 hours, 7 minutes and 49 seconds. This victory was one of the greatest successes in Dutch cycling and launched the international careers of several members of the team.
The first item on display is a commemorative plate celebrating the gold medal won by the Dutch team at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. Made of light-coloured ceramic, it is decorated with blue plant motifs and several depictions of cyclists. The central inscription refers to the Olympic Games, the gold medal, the names of René Pijnen, Fedor den Hertog, Jan Krekels and Joop Zoetemelk, as well as the date and the time achieved by the winning team.
The second item is the Olympic laurel wreath received by René Pijnen on the podium in Mexico City. Preserved in a rectangular wooden box, this dried laurel branch is accompanied by a depiction of the five Olympic rings.
The photograph on the right shows René Pijnen presenting the commemorative plate. It serves as a valuable document of provenance and directly links these objects to the Dutch champion.
Displayed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, the plate and the Olympic laurel branch keep alive the memory of the Dutch victory in the team time trial at the 1968 Games.
ITEM N° 251
PLANCKAERT Eddy (B)
(22.09.1958)
His trophy for winning the third stage of the 1982 Vuelta a España
Born on 22 September 1958 in Nevele, Eddy Planckaert is a former Belgian professional cyclist who competed from 1980 to 1991. A fast and powerful sprinter, he also performed very well in the Flemish classics.
His list of victories includes, notably, the 1988 Tour of Flanders, the 1990 Paris–Roubaix, two editions of the Circuit Het Volk and two E3 Grand Prix races. In 1988, he also won the points classification in the Tour de France and brought the green jersey back to Paris.
On 23 April 1982, Eddy Planckaert won the third stage of the Tour of Spain whilst riding for the Wickes–Splendor team. The stage, contested over 208 kilometres between Gijón and Santander, ended with the Belgian’s victory ahead of the Swiss rider Stefan Mutter and the Frenchman Marc Gomez. Planckaert dominated the early stages of the Vuelta, winning the race’s first four road finishes. This remarkable run of victories confirmed his outstanding qualities as a sprinter. Over the course of his career, he went on to win ten stages of the Vuelta a España.
The item on display is the trophy awarded to Eddy Planckaert for his victory in the third stage of the 1982 Tour of Spain, between Gijón and Santander. The trophy takes the form of a large, shallow, slightly undulating silver-coloured metal cup. Its bowl is framed by two elegant, openwork handles with curved lines and richly detailed craftsmanship. A small enamelled coat of arms adorns the centre of the cup and likely represents the town or region associated with the stage’s finish. The whole rests on a decorated circular foot, attached to an imposing black square plinth.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy commemorates Eddy Planckaert’s victory in Santander and his impressive dominance at the start of the 1982 Vuelta.
ITEM N° 247
PLANCKAERT Walter (B)
(08.04.1948)
His trophy for winning the first stage of the 1974 Tirreno–Adriatico
Born on 8 April 1948 in Nevele, Walter Planckaert is a former Belgian professional cyclist who competed from 1970 to 1985. A fast, resilient rider who was particularly at home in the classics, he comes from a famous family of cyclists. He is the brother of Willy and Eddy Planckaert.
During his career, he claimed 74 victories. His list of achievements includes, notably, the 1972 Amstel Gold Race, the Tour of Flanders and the E3 Grand Prix in 1976, the 1977 Tour of Belgium, and a stage of the Tour de France in 1978. After retiring, he became a team manager.
On 12 March 1974, Walter Planckaert competed in the ninth edition of Tirreno–Adriatico as part of the Watney–Maes team. He won the first stage, a 187-kilometre race between Santa Marinella and Fiuggi. The Belgian finished ahead of the Italian Franco Bitossi and the Spaniard Domingo Perurena. Thanks to this victory, he became the first leader of the race, which was ultimately won by Roger De Vlaeminck.
The item on display is the trophy presented to Walter Planckaert for his victory in the first stage of the 1974 Tirreno–Adriatico. It takes the form of an elegant gilded metal cup, comprising a rounded bowl fitted with two slender, ornate handles. The cup is topped by a multi-tiered lid, surmounted by a small figurine. The bowl rests on a long, flared stem, attached to a cylindrical wooden base. A commemorative plaque affixed to the plinth mentions the town of Fiuggi, Tirreno–Adriatico and the ‘Trofeo Fiat’.
Photographs of Walter Planckaert, including a recent portrait and a snapshot taken in the heat of the race, place this award in the context of a long career dedicated to cycling.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy serves as a reminder of Walter Planckaert’s victory in Fiuggi and of one of the many successes achieved by this great Belgian classics specialist.
