The trophies - 5
ITEM N° 532
BECCIA Mario (I)
(16.08.1955)
The trophy he won at the 1976 Italian Amateur Championships
Born on 16 August 1955 in Troia, in the province of Foggia, Mario Beccia is a former Italian cyclist. A tenacious and consistent climber, he competed as a professional from 1977 to 1988.
In his very first professional season, he won a stage of the Giro d’Italia, the Best Young Rider classification and the Giro dell’Emilia. He went on to win three further stages of the Giro, bringing his total number of victories in the race to four.
In 1980, Beccia won a stage and the general classification of the Tour de Suisse ahead of Josef Fuchs and Joop Zoetemelk. Two years later, he triumphed in the Flèche Wallonne ahead of Jostein Wilmann and Paul Haghedooren. His best result in the Giro d’Italia was a fourth-place finish in 1983. He rounded off his list of victories with the Tour of the Apennines, the Tour of Umbria and Milan–Vignola in 1984, before finishing third in Milan–San Remo in 1986.
The item on display is a trophy won by Mario Beccia in 1976, whilst he was still competing as an amateur, at the Italian Championships. The trophy is distinguished by its slender shape, reminiscent of two cones joined at their tips. Two large decorative handles frame the bowl. The marks, discolouration and patina visible on the metal bear witness to the age of this award, which has been preserved since the rider’s amateur days.
The accompanying photograph shows Mario Beccia holding up the trophy, which can be seen in the background, confirming that it was kept personally by the champion before joining the collection.
Displayed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy preserves the memory of Mario Beccia’s early career and his 1976 amateur season. Its distinctive shape, intricate decoration and the accompanying photographs make it a testament directly linked to the Italian champion’s career.
ITEM N° 027
BEHEYT Benoni (B)
(27.09.1940)
Commemorative plate from the 1963 Renaix Road World Championships
Born on 27 September 1940 in Zwijnaarde, Benoni Beheyt is a former Belgian cyclist. Fast and particularly formidable in the sprint, he had a professional career from 1962 to 1968.
With over a hundred amateur victories to his name, he competed at the 1960 Rome Olympics and finished seventh in the road race. Turning professional in 1962, he quickly established himself as one of the finest Belgian sprinters of his generation.
The year 1963 marked the peak of his career. After winning Gent–Wevelgem, he became world road champion on 11 August in Renaix, Belgium, beating his compatriot Rik Van Looy in the sprint. That finish remains one of the most famous moments in the history of Belgian cycling.
In 1964, Benoni Beheyt won the overall classification of the Tour of Belgium as well as a stage of the Tour de France. He brought his career to a premature end in 1968, leaving behind the memory of a talented rider whose name remains closely associated with the world championship in Renaix.
The item on display is a memento directly linked to that 1963 world title. This decorated commemorative plate was presented by Benoni Beheyt during his visit to Lavaux-Sainte-Anne. The light-coloured ceramic plate, edged with a gold border, bears the inscription ‘Ronse 11.8.1963’. Its design features a globe, a Belgian flag, the national colours and several architectural elements evoking the town and the championship route. The central photograph shows Benoni Beheyt himself holding the plate; it establishes a personal link between the champion, these mementoes and their inclusion in the collection.
Displayed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, these objects preserve the memory of 11 August 1963, the day on which Benoni Beheyt won the rainbow jersey as world champion in Ronse.
ITEM N° 029
BINDA Alfredo (I)
(11.08.1902 – 19.07.1986)
Honour bestowed upon the Italian champion on 17 October 1982
Born on 11 August 1902 in Cittiglio, Lombardy, Alfredo Binda is one of the leading figures in the history of Italian cycling. An excellent climber, a remarkable all-rounder and a formidable finisher, he dominated road racing throughout the 1920s and 1930s.
Nicknamed the ‘Campionissimo’, he won the Giro d’Italia five times, in 1925, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1933. He also claimed 41 stages of the race, a record that remained unbroken for several decades. Alfredo Binda also became the first rider to win three professional road world championship titles, in 1927, 1930 and 1932. His honours list also includes two Milan–San Remo victories and four Giro di Lombardia wins.
After his racing career, he became manager of the Italian national team. Under his leadership, Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi and Gastone Nencini went on to win the Tour de France, extending his influence on cycling far beyond his own victories.
The item on display is an honorary award presented to Alfredo Binda on 17 October 1982, a few years before his death. It pays tribute to his entire career and to the exceptional place he occupies in the history of cycling. Preserved in a red case, this award consists of a rectangular plaque with a marbled finish. The plaque bears a dedication in Italian: ‘Ad Alfredo Binda, indimenticabile campione del ciclismo, il gruppo con stima e affetto’, which can be translated as: ‘To Alfredo Binda, unforgettable cycling champion, from the team with esteem and affection’. The accompanying signed photograph shows Alfredo Binda wearing the colours of the Legnano team.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this award stands as a particularly moving testament to the recognition accorded to Alfredo Binda, a pioneer of the World Championships and the first five-time winner of the Giro d’Italia.
