The trophies - 9
ITEM N° 055
BREUKINK Erik (NL)
(01.04.1964)
His winner’s trophy from the 1988 Tour of the Basque Country
Born on 1 April 1964 in Rheden, in the Netherlands, Erik Breukink is a former Dutch professional cyclist. An excellent all-rounder and a good climber, he possessed the qualities needed to excel in major stage races.
A professional from 1985 to 1997, he rode for teams including Panasonic, PDM, ONCE and Rabobank. His ability to ride solo made him one of the best time-trial specialists of his generation.
In April 1988, Breukink won the general classification of the Tour of the Basque Country. Having won the final time trial at Otzaurte, he finished ahead of his compatriot Luc Suykerbuyk and the Spaniard Julián Gorospe in the final standings. This victory marked the start of an exceptional season. A few weeks later, he finished second in the Giro d’Italia after winning, in a snowstorm, the famous stage over the Gavia Pass. He then won the Best Young Rider classification in the Tour de France.
Breukink confirmed his status as a great stage racer by finishing third in the 1990 Tour de France, an edition in which he won two time trials. His list of achievements also includes four stage wins in the Tour de France, as well as several successes in the Giro and the Vuelta.
The item on display is the trophy awarded to Erik Breukink for his victory in the 1988 Tour of the Basque Country. It commemorates one of the major successes of his career and his first major victory in an international stage race. This imposing cup consists of a bowl with a metallic sheen, adorned with two richly crafted handles. Green and pink enamelled elements add a touch of colour to its slender silhouette.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy preserves the memory of 1988, a pivotal year in Erik Breukink’s career. It symbolises the emergence of a rider who went on to become one of the Netherlands’ leading figures in stage races.
*** Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) ***
ITEM N° 057
BRUYÈRE Joseph (B)
(05.10.1948)
His winner’s and leader’s trophy after the first stage of the 1975 Catalan Week
Born on 5 October 1948 in Maastricht, in the Netherlands, Joseph Bruyère is a former Belgian professional cyclist. A professional from 1970 to 1980, this powerful and enduring rider distinguished himself in both the classics and stage races.
A long-time team-mate of Eddy Merckx, he played a key role in several of Merckx’s major victories. He also built up a remarkable personal record, highlighted in particular by two wins at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, in 1976 and 1978, and three victories in the Circuit Het Volk. Joseph Bruyère also won a stage of the Tour de France in 1972. Wearing the yellow jersey in 1974 and 1978, he finished fourth in the general classification of the 1978 edition, the best result of his career in the Tour de France.
In 1975, riding for the Molteni team, he won the first stage of the Semaine Catalane, a 196-kilometre race between L’Hospitalet de Llobregat and Valls. He finished one second ahead of Rik Van Linden and took the lead in the general classification. This victorious start was unfortunately followed by a serious accident. After crashing on a descent, Bruyère fractured his femur and was forced to withdraw from the race before being hospitalised in Vic.
The item on display is the trophy awarded to Joseph Bruyère for his stage victory and for taking the leader’s jersey. Its history thus links a one-day sporting triumph with the brutal ordeal the cyclist faced shortly afterwards. The trophy is characterised by a slender design: a wide metal bowl rests on a shaft decorated with plant motifs, which in turn is mounted on a black marble plinth. Its original silhouette reflects the aesthetic of cycling trophies from the 1970s.
The photograph showing the rider with his wife after he withdrew from the race highlights the human dimension of this episode. It contrasts with the image of the winner and underscores the fragility of sporting success, which can sometimes be cut short in a matter of moments.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy preserves the memory of a moment in Joseph Bruyère’s career that was as glorious as it was painful: he was the winner and leader of the 1975 Catalan Week before a crash brought his race to a premature end.
*** Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) ***
ITEM N° 056
BRUYÈRE Joseph (B)
(05.10.1948)
The leader’s trophy he received in Gironella during the final Stage A of the 1977 Catalan Week
Born on 5 October 1948 in Maastricht, Joseph Bruyère is a former Belgian professional cyclist. A professional from 1970 to 1980, he stood out for his power, endurance and ability to excel in both one-day classics and stage races.
A loyal team-mate to Eddy Merckx at Molteni, he contributed to several of the Belgian champion’s major victories. This team-oriented role did not prevent him from building up a remarkable personal record.
Joseph Bruyère notably won Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 1976 and 1978, as well as the Circuit Het Volk on three occasions. Winner of a stage of the Tour de France in 1972, he also wore the yellow jersey in 1974 and 1978, the year in which he finished fourth in the general classification.
The Catalan Week holds a special place in his career. In 1975, Bruyère won the first stage there before a serious crash and a fractured femur forced him to withdraw. Two years later, he returned to the race riding for Fiat. In 1977, on the final day—which was split into two sections—his performances saw him provisionally take the lead in the general classification at the finish of Stage A, which concluded in Gironella. The trophy presented to him was therefore awarded in his capacity as leader. This award thus does not necessarily celebrate the race’s final general classification, but rather a specific moment during the event. It bears witness to Bruyère’s position at the top of the standings before the final part of the race. The trophy consists of a large metal cup resting on a richly decorated base. The base features relief motifs inspired by plant life and Oriental designs, whilst a rectangular plinth of dark stone ensures the stability of the whole.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël GREGOIRE Collections, this trophy preserves the memory of a particular episode from the 1977 Catalan Week. It bears witness to Joseph Bruyère’s return to a race that had proved cruel to him two years earlier and to his presence amongst the race’s leading contenders.
*** Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) ***
.
