Unusual objects - 3
ITEM N° 082
DANNEELS Gustaaf (B)
(06.09.1913 – 13.04.1976)
Framed photograph with Albert Billiet at the Ghent velodrome – 1943
Gustaaf Danneels was one of the finest Belgian cyclists of the 1930s. Fast, powerful and versatile, he excelled on both the road and the track.
He won the prestigious Paris–Tours classic three times, in 1934, 1936 and 1937. His first victory, on 29 April 1934, marked the beginning of a special relationship with this race. In 1936, his exceptional average speed earned him the honour of becoming the first recipient of the Yellow Ribbon, an award created to recognise the speed record set in a race of over 200 kilometres. His honours also include the title of Belgian professional road champion in 1935, two bronze medals at the World Championships in 1934 and 1935, and a stage victory in the 1937 Tour de France. These results place Gustaaf Danneels amongst the most notable Belgian champions of the interwar period.
The item presented here is a large framed photograph depicting Gustaaf Danneels and Albert Billiet at the Ghent velodrome in 1943. The two cyclists, wearing the Dossche Sport team jersey, are shown surrounded by family members and friends, holding bouquets of flowers. The scene appears to have been captured following a track meeting or a ceremony honouring the two champions.
Albert Billiet was, at the time, one of Belgium’s leading specialists in Six-Day races. In 1943, Danneels and Billiet formed a particularly effective partnership and together won the Prix Dupré-Lapize and the Prix Hourlier-Comès, two American-style races contested by teams of two riders.
The photograph bears the studio’s mark ‘Foto G. Plaetsier – Gent’, which helps to identify its origin. Its antique frame, large dimensions and the marks left by the passage of time reinforce its historical significance.
Held in the Noël Grégoire Collections, this photograph is a valuable record of the second half of Gustaaf Danneels’ career. It serves as a reminder that, following his great victories on the road, the three-time winner of Paris–Tours went on to enjoy a successful career on the velodromes.
ITEM N° 081
DANNEELS Gustaaf (B)
(06.09.1913 – 13.04.1976)
Framed portrait showing the 1935 Belgian professional champion’s jersey
Born in Loos, in northern France, Gustaaf – also known as Gustave Danneels – was one of the finest Belgian cyclists of the 1930s. Fast and powerful, he excelled in both the classics and major international competitions.
After winning the Belgian Novice Championship in 1931, followed by the Belgian Independents’ Championship in 1933, he claimed the title of Belgian Professional Road Champion in 1935. This victory entitled him to wear the prestigious black, yellow and red jersey, as shown in the item presented here, for one season. Gustaaf Danneels won the Paris–Tours classic three times, in 1934, 1936 and 1937. His 1936 victory, achieved at an exceptional average speed for the time, earned him the honour of being the first recipient of the Yellow Ribbon, a distinction created to recognise the speed record set in a race of over 200 kilometres. He also won two bronze medals at the World Road Championships, in 1934 and 1935, as well as a stage victory in the 1937 Tour de France.
The frame preserved in the collection contains an old photograph of Gustaaf Danneels wearing his Belgian champion’s jersey. The tricolour stripes around the chest and sleeves make it immediately possible to identify this particularly prestigious jersey, a symbol of his professional title won in 1935. The patina of the frame, the visible signs of ageing on the photograph and the traces left by the passage of time all enhance the historical value of the piece as a whole. Far more than a mere portrait, this artefact captures the image of a champion at the height of his career and bears witness to the way in which cycling achievements were once celebrated and preserved.
Preserved within the Noël Grégoire Collections, this frame is a valuable record of Gustaaf Danneels’ career and of the golden age of Belgian cycling between the two world wars.
ITEM N° 498
DANNEELS Gustaaf (B)
(06.09.1913 – 13.04.1976)
Panoramic photograph of a group of cyclists – probably the 1935 Tour de France
Born in Loos-en-Gohelle, in the Pas-de-Calais, Gustaaf Danneels was one of the finest Belgian cyclists of his generation. Belgian professional road champion in 1935, he also won the bronze medal at the World Championships in 1934 and 1935. A formidable classics specialist, he won Paris–Tours three times, in 1934, 1936 and 1937, earning him the nickname ‘Monsieur Paris–Tours’. His 1936 victory also saw him become the first recipient of the prestigious Yellow Ribbon, awarded for the speed record set in a major race.
This striking panoramic photograph shows a group of around fifteen riders making their way along a tree-lined road, accompanied by several vehicles from the race support convoy. The leading cyclist is wearing a light-coloured jersey with distinctive stripes. His kit, facial features and position at the front suggest that he may be Gustaaf Danneels wearing his Belgian champion’s jersey.
The scene may have been photographed during the 1935 Tour de France, in which Danneels competed for the Belgian national team wearing race number 2. One possibility is the second stage, held on 5 July between Lille and Charleville. That stage ended with a bunch sprint involving twenty riders: Charles Pélissier won the sprint, whilst Danneels finished fourth in the same time.
Despite several corroborating details, the precise identification of the race and the stage remains to be confirmed. The inscriptions ‘Gevaert’ and ‘Gevaert Orthochrom’ visible on the frame and the print attest to the age of the photographic material.
Donated by the Danneels family, this exceptional document is a valuable record of Gustaaf Danneels’ career and the heroic cycling of the 1930s. It is now held in the Noël Grégoire Collections.
