The trophies - 35
ITEM N° 305
VAN HOOYDONCK Edwig (B)
(04.08.1966)
His medal and trophy as winner of the 1988 Eddy Merckx Grand Prix
Edwig Van Hooydonck is a former Belgian cyclist who turned professional between 1986 and 1996. A leading classics specialist, he stood out for his endurance, power and ability to attack on hilly and cobbled roads.
Nicknamed ‘Eddy Bosberg’, he won the Tour of Flanders twice, in 1989 and 1991, after launching decisive attacks on the Bosberg. He also holds the record for the most victories in the Brabantse Pijl, which he won four times.
In 1988, riding for the Superconfex-Yoko team, Van Hooydonck won the Grand Prix Eddy Merckx, which at the time was contested as an individual time trial around Brussels. Over the 57-kilometre course, he clocked a time of 1 hour 15 minutes 44 seconds. He finished 46 seconds ahead of the German Rolf Gölz and 49 seconds ahead of the Norwegian Jaanus Kuum. Having already finished second in the race in 1987, he thus confirmed his remarkable skills as a road racer.
The items on display are the medal and the trophy awarded to Edwig Van Hooydonck for this victory. The circular medal bears the engraved inscription ‘GP Eddy Merckx 1988 – 1st place’.
The trophy has a modern, stylised design. Its upper section depicts a cyclist in motion, emphasised by several coloured bands. The ensemble rests on a rectangular plinth bearing a plaque engraved with the name of the 1988 Eddy Merckx Grand Prix.
The photograph on the right shows Edwig Van Hooydonck personally presenting his trophies, accompanied by a signed Superconfex-Yoko jersey. It constitutes a valuable record of provenance, directly linking the objects to their original owner.
Displayed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this medal and trophy preserve the memory of a victory achieved by one of the finest Belgian classics riders of his generation.
ITEM N° 380
VAN HOOYDONCK Edwig (B)
(04.08.1966)
His winner’s trophy from Dwars door België 1990
Born on 4 August 1966 in Ekeren, Edwig Van Hooydonck is a former Belgian cyclist who turned professional in 1986 and retired in 1996. Powerful and with great stamina, he was one of the finest specialists in the Flemish classics of his generation.
Nicknamed ‘Eddy Bosberg’, he won the Tour of Flanders twice, in 1989 and 1991. His honours also include four victories in the Brabantse Pijl and two third-place finishes in Paris–Roubaix.
On 22 March 1990, riding for the Buckler team, he took part in the 45th edition of Dwars door België, now known as Dwars door Vlaanderen. The race covered 200 kilometres, starting and finishing in Waregem. The victory came down to a sprint between Van Hooydonck and the Dutchman Adrie van der Poel. The two riders crossed the line almost simultaneously, and it was only after examining the photo-finish that Edwig Van Hooydonck was declared the winner. Marc Sergeant completed the podium.
The item on display is the trophy presented to Edwig Van Hooydonck for this victory. This tall metal cup features a silver bowl decorated with geometric patterns. Its slender stem bears a medallion depicting a cyclist and rests on a dark stone plinth.
The original plaque affixed to the trophy bears the inscription ‘45th Dwars Door België – 1990’. It precisely identifies the race and the edition being commemorated.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy preserves the memory of a victory secured by a margin of just a few centimetres, at the end of one of the closest finishes in the race’s history.
ITEM N° 309
VAN LANCKER Eric (B)
(30.04.1961)
His winner’s trophy from the third stage of the 1989 Tour of the Basque Country
Born on 30 April 1961 in Oudenaarde, Eric Van Lancker is a former Belgian professional cyclist who competed from 1984 to 1995. A versatile rider and excellent climber, he particularly excelled in hilly classics and stage races.
His list of victories includes, notably, the 1989 Amstel Gold Race, the 1990 Liège–Bastogne–Liège, the Wincanton Classic and the Grand Prix des Amériques in 1991. He also won a stage of the Giro d’Italia in 1986.
On 5 April 1989, riding for the Panasonic-Isostar team, he contested the third stage of the Tour of the Basque Country between Trapagaran and the summit of Ibardin. This queen stage covered 183 kilometres and finished with a mountain finish. With less than two kilometres to go, Eric Van Lancker launched an attack and managed to maintain a lead of a few metres. He won the stage ahead of José Luis Laguía and Jesús Blanco Villar, whilst also claiming the race leader’s jersey.
The item on display is the trophy awarded to Eric Van Lancker for this stage victory. It features a flared metal bowl, supported by a decorative element with outstretched wings. Its slender design combines black uprights, silver-coloured ornamentation and two laurel branches. The whole stands on a substantial dark plinth bearing its original commemorative plaque. The contrast between the metallic surfaces and the black elements lends the trophy a particularly solemn air.
The photograph on the left shows Eric Van Lancker alongside Noël Gregoire during the 2024 Flèche Wallonne. It establishes a contemporary link between the champion, the preserved object and the collection in which it is displayed.
Displayed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy commemorates a victorious attack on the slopes of Ibardin and one of Eric Van Lancker’s greatest successes of the 1989 season.
