The trophies - 43
ITEM N° 657
PAUWELS Eddy (B)
(02.05.1935 – 06.03.2017)
His Martini Challenge trophy, won with the Belgian team at the 1959 Tour de France
Born on 2 May 1935 in Bornem, Eddy Pauwels belongs to the generation of great post-war Belgian cyclists. An excellent stage racer, he stood out for his endurance, consistency and attacking style.
In 1959, he took part in his first Tour de France riding for the Belgian national team. On his debut in the Grande Boucle, he put in a remarkable performance, finishing eleventh in the general classification. During that edition, Eddy Pauwels wore the yellow jersey on two occasions. He also contributed to Belgium’s overall victory in the team classification.
The item on display is a Martini Challenge trophy, an award linked to the Tour de France team classification. Awarded to Eddy Pauwels as a member of the victorious Belgian team, it serves as a reminder of the importance of teamwork in a race often dominated by individual feats. The trophy features a decidedly modern design. A metal bicycle wheel is pierced by a large winged form, symbolising speed, momentum and victory. The whole rests on a dark plinth bearing the inscription ‘Challenge Martini’.
The Martini Challenge was then the name given to the international team classification of the Tour de France. This collective victory recognised the strength of the Belgian team, within which Eddy Pauwels played an important role. His strong positions in the general classification and his time at the front of the race contributed directly to his team’s success.
The photograph accompanying the object shows the young Eddy Pauwels in the colours of the Mann team. It evokes the early days of a rider who would go on to compete in several Tours de France and subsequently win stages there.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy commemorates Belgium’s victory in the team classification of the 1959 Tour de France and Eddy Pauwels’ brilliant debut in the Grande Boucle.
ITEM N° 658
FONTANELLI Fabiano (I)
(24.04.1965)
His trophy as leader and winner of the 2002 Giro della Provincia di Lucca
Born on 24 April 1965 in Solarolo, Emilia-Romagna, Fabiano Fontanelli is an Italian cyclist whose professional career spanned from 1989 to 2003. A solid team-mate and formidable breakaway specialist, he racked up 37 victories, including four stages of the Giro d’Italia.
In 2002, riding for Mercatone Uno, he took part in the fourth edition of the Giro ciclistico della Provincia di Lucca. He won the first stage between Pescia and Castelvecchio and took the lead in the general classification. On 2 October, at the end of the second stage from Capannori to Altopascio, Fontanelli retained his lead. He remained at the top of the race until the final finish in Lucca, where he won ahead of the Swiss rider Markus Zberg and the Frenchman Richard Virenque.
The item on display is the trophy presented by the municipality of Altopascio to the overall leader after the second stage. It also serves as a significant memento of Fabiano Fontanelli’s overall victory in this race. The cup has a broad silver body, decorated on its main face with a floral motif surrounding a blue medallion. Two large, symmetrical handles, adorned with stylised animal figures, lend the piece a particularly elegant appearance. The vase rests on a tapered stem, which is in turn attached to a substantial black plinth. The commemorative plaque specifies the name of the municipality of Altopascio, the title of leader, the stage route and the date of 2 October 2002.
The photograph on the right shows Fabiano Fontanelli crossing the finish line whilst riding for Mercatone Uno. The one on the left, taken several years later, shows him personally holding the trophy. The handwritten note accompanying the item reinforces its direct link to the cyclist and its provenance.
A team-mate and friend of Marco Pantani, Fontanelli notably took part in the 1998 Tour de France, won by ‘The Pirate’. After his racing career, he recounted his sporting journey and his battle with Parkinson’s disease in the book *Trentasette volte Fontanelli*, written with Normanno Bartoli.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy commemorates Fabiano Fontanelli’s victory in the 2002 Giro della Provincia di Lucca, one of the final major successes of his long professional career.
