Unusual objects- 2
ITEM N° 065
CASARTELLI Fabio (I)
(16.08.1970 – 18.07.1995)
His race number 114, worn during the 1995 Tour de France
Born in Como, Fabio Casartelli was one of the great hopes of Italian cycling in the 1990s. He achieved fame at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, where he won the gold medal in the road race. Having turned professional in 1993, he joined the American Motorola team for the 1995 season. Fabio Casartelli’s Olympic profile
The race number 114 shown here was worn by Fabio Casartelli during the 1995 Tour de France. It consists of a light-coloured fabric patch bearing the number 114 in black lettering, the name of the Motorola-Festina team and the colours of the Italian flag. The race photograph shows this same number attached to the rider’s jersey.
On 18 July 1995, during the fifteenth stage, the Italian champion tragically lost his life following a crash on the descent from the Col de Portet-d’Aspet. His death, at the age of just 24, caused immense grief within the peloton and throughout the world of cycling.
A handwritten letter signed by Anna Maria Casartelli accompanies this item. In it, she thanks Noël Grégoire for keeping Fabio’s memory alive and confirms the deeply personal nature of this collection donated to the museum.
Displayed in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël Grégoire Collections, this historic race number poignantly honours the memory of Fabio Casartelli, an Olympic champion whose life was tragically cut short on the roads of the Tour de France.
ITEM N° 070
CLOSE Alex (B)
(26.11.1921 – 21.10.2008)
The terry-cloth cap he wore during the 1956 Tour de France
A professional cyclist from 1949 to 1959, Alex Close was one of the finest Belgian road cyclists of his generation. He took part in six Tours de France, finishing seventh in 1952 and fourth in 1953. Winner of the Tour of Belgium in 1955, he also won the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré in 1956 and came third in Liège–Bastogne–Liège that same year. Alex Close’s honours list
The cap shown here is believed to have been worn by Alex Close during the 1956 Tour de France, which he finished in seventeenth place. Made from a light-coloured, spongy material, it is adorned on the side with a ribbon in the colours of Belgium.
This unusual item was designed to cope with the particularly gruelling weather conditions faced by the riders. The cap could be dipped in water before being put back on, allowing the cyclist to cool down briefly whilst riding. Its shape and material are testament to the simple yet ingenious solutions employed at a time when technical cooling equipment did not yet exist.
Beyond its unusual appearance, this item evokes the harshness of the Tour in the 1950s and the means available to riders to cope with the heat, the length of the stages and fatigue.
On display in the Virtual Cycling Museum – Noël Grégoire Collections, this rare terry cap preserves the memory of Alex Close and bears witness to the ingenuity once employed to protect champions from the gruelling conditions of the Tour de France.
ITEM N° 074
CLOSE Alex (B)
(26.11.1921 – 21.10.2008)
Vintage photograph dedicated to the 1955 season
Originally from Moignelée, in the province of Namur, Alex Close was one of Belgium’s finest stage race cyclists during the 1950s. A professional from 1949 to 1959, he stood out for his consistency, his endurance and his skills as a road racer.
Alex Close took part in six editions of the Tour de France between 1952 and 1957. He finished seventh in 1952, achieved his best result by taking fourth place in the general classification in 1953, and then finished ninth again in 1955. He also came thirteenth in the 1952 Giro d’Italia.
The frame shown here specifically commemorates his remarkable 1955 season. That year, Alex Close won the general classification of the Tour of Belgium – one of the most significant victories of his career – and confirmed his calibre by finishing in the top ten of the Tour de France. The following year, he further added to his list of achievements by winning the 1956 Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré and finishing third in Liège–Bastogne–Liège.
This set comprises a photograph showing Alex Close standing next to his bicycle and a trophy, as well as a signed portrait of the rider. These two items serve as a reminder both of his sporting successes and of the recognition he enjoyed amongst the Belgian public.
Through the combination of period photographs and a valuable autographed memento, this frame preserves the memory of a discreet yet consistently reliable champion who was able to compete with the finest riders of his generation.
Housed within the Noël Grégoire Collections, it stands as a remarkable testament to Alex Close’s career and one of his most memorable seasons.
