The trophies - 7
ITEM N° 035
BONTEMPI Guido (I)
(12.01.1960)
One of his first trophies, won at Buffalora in 1971
Born on 12 January 1960 in Gussago, Lombardy, Guido Bontempi is a former Italian cyclist, specialising in sprints and fast races. His power would later earn him the nickname ‘Buffalo’. He first made his mark in the junior categories, both on the road and on the track. The trophy he won at Buffalora in 1971 dates from this early stage of his career: Bontempi was just eleven years old at the time.
Having become a top-level track cyclist, he won the Italian junior championships in the kilometre and individual pursuit in 1978. Two years later, he finished fourth in the kilometre and the team pursuit at the Moscow Olympic Games.
A professional from 1981 to 1995, he went on to establish himself as one of the best sprinters of his generation. Notably, he won sixteen stages of the Giro d’Italia, six stages of the Tour de France and four stages of the Vuelta a España.
His list of achievements also includes two victories in Gent–Wevelgem, in 1984 and 1986, as well as Paris–Brussels in 1986 and the E3 Grand Prix in 1988. Winner of the prologue of the 1988 Tour de France, he also wore the yellow jersey.
The item on display is a trophy won at Buffalora in 1971, considered one of the first awards won by Guido Bontempi at the start of his cycling career. Its shape, colours and materials are characteristic of the prizes awarded at local cycling events of that era. Although modest in comparison to the prestigious list of achievements that Bontempi would go on to build, this object holds significant biographical value. This trophy thus offers a glimpse back to the origins of a career rich in numerous international victories. It serves as a reminder that Guido Bontempi’s great successes were preceded by a long apprenticeship that began in childhood in regional Italian competitions.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this object preserves the memory of the first laps of a young rider destined to become one of the most memorable Italian sprinters of the 1980s.
ITEM N° 038
BOOGERD Michael (NL)
(28.05.1972)
His trophy for winning the 16th stage of the 2002 Tour de France at La Plagne
Born on 28 May 1972 in The Hague, Michael Boogerd is a former Dutch professional cyclist. A professional from 1994 to 2007, he spent his entire career with the same team, successively known as WordPerfect, Novell and then Rabobank.
An attacking and resilient rider, he excelled particularly in hilly classics and mountain stages. His combative spirit and consistency made him one of the leading figures in Dutch cycling of his generation.
In 1996, he won his first stage of the Tour de France in Aix-les-Bains. Three years later, he enjoyed one of his best seasons, winning Paris–Nice and the Amstel Gold Race. He also secured numerous podium finishes in the major Ardennes classics.
On 24 July 2002, Boogerd set off on the 16th stage of the Tour de France between Les Deux Alpes and La Plagne. Covering 179.5 kilometres, this gruelling Alpine stage included climbs up the Galibier and the Madeleine before the final ascent to La Plagne. Part of the breakaway, the Dutchman held off the chase by the favourites and won solo at the summit. He finished 1 minute and 25 seconds ahead of the Spaniard Carlos Sastre, securing the second stage victory of his career in the Tour de France.
The item on display is the trophy presented to Michael Boogerd for his victory at La Plagne. It commemorates one of the most memorable successes of his career. The piece takes the form of a dark rectangular panel to which several metal elements in relief are affixed. The upper section depicts a cyclist leaning over his bike, in a pose evoking the intense effort of a high-mountain climb. The accompanying photograph shows Michael Boogerd in his Rabobank kit, personally holding this award. It establishes a direct link between the trophy, its recipient and the victory achieved at the end of the Alpine stage.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy commemorates Michael Boogerd’s victorious attack on the slopes of La Plagne on 24 July 2002, and bears witness to one of the finest days of his career.
ITEM N° 376
BOONEN Tom (B)
(15.10.1980)
His bronze trophy commemorating several victories in the U23 category
Born on 15 October 1980 in Mol, in the province of Antwerp, Tom Boonen is a former Belgian professional cyclist. Endowed with great power and remarkable sprinting ability, he became one of the finest specialists in the Flemish classics and on cobbled sections.
Before turning professional, he made a name for himself in the U23 category. In 2000, he won the Paris–Tours U23 race and a stage of the Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux, before finishing second in the Belgian U23 championship.
His 2001 season confirmed his immense potential. He became Belgian U23 road champion and won several races, including Zellik–Galmaarden and the Internationale Wielertrofee Jong Maar Moedig.
After turning professional in 2002, Boonen immediately made his mark by finishing third in Paris–Roubaix. He went on to build an exceptional list of achievements, including four Paris–Roubaix victories, three Tours of Flanders and the world road cycling championship title won in Madrid in 2005. Winner of six stages of the Tour de France, he also claimed the points classification and the green jersey in 2007. By the time he retired in 2017, he was already regarded as one of the great figures in the history of Belgian cycling.
The piece on display is an imposing bronze trophy commemorating several of Tom Boonen’s successes in the under-23 category. It bears witness to the period during which the young rider gained experience before reaching the very highest level. The sculpture depicts a cyclist standing in front of his bike, in a pose that is both proud and relaxed. A plaque affixed to the plinth lists the names of various races and locations associated with his early victories. This gives the trophy a summarising function: the object celebrates not a single result, but a series of decisive successes in his progression. The photograph on the left, taken at the KOERS, the Cycling Museum in Roeselare, on 10 November 2022, shows the rider as an adult alongside Noël Grégoire.
Featured in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy serves as a reminder that Tom Boonen’s impressive career began in the junior ranks. It stands as a valuable testament to the early victories of the man who would go on to become world champion and one of the greatest masters of the cobbles.
