Unusual objects - 5
ITEM N° 137
HANEGRAAF Jacques (NL)
(14.12.1960)
Splint worn following a fall in Woerden in 1981
Originally from Rijsbergen in the Netherlands, Jacques Hanegraaf turned professional in 1981 with the prestigious TI-Raleigh team, managed by Peter Post. From his very first season, he emerged as one of the great hopes of Dutch cycling.
On 21 June 1981, aged just twenty, he won the Dutch road championship ahead of Gerrie Knetemann and Adrie van der Poel. This victory earned him the red, white and blue tricolour jersey of the national champion.
The day after this victory, Hanegraaf took part in a race held in Woerden. After a fall, he fractured his wrist and had to wear the splint shown here. Preserved with signs of wear, this item is a particularly rare and personal memento of his early professional career.
Jacques Hanegraaf went on to confirm his talent by winning Paris–Brussels in 1982 and the Amstel Gold Race in 1984. That same year, he wore the yellow jersey of the Tour de France for two days and won the intermediate sprint classification. He became Dutch champion for a second time in 1985.
Housed in the Noël Grégoire Collections, this splint evokes the striking contrast between Jacques Hanegraaf’s national triumph and the crash that occurred the very next day. Far more than a mere medical item, it is a memento directly linked to the Dutch champion’s career.
ITEM N° 139
HASSENFORDER Roger (F)
(23.07.1930 – 03.01.2021)
A pair of running shoes worn by Roger Hassenforder
Born in Sausheim, Alsace, Roger Hassenforder was one of the most popular French cyclists of the 1950s. His whimsical nature, flair for the dramatic and constant banter earned him the nicknames ‘Roger the Mad’ and ‘the life and soul of the peloton’. Behind this colourful personality, however, lay a particularly talented competitor.
During his six appearances in the Tour de France, Hassenforder won eight stages and wore the yellow jersey for four days in 1953. He also triumphed three times in the Critérium National, in 1954, 1956 and 1958, and won a stage of the 1957 Vuelta a España.
The pair of shoes shown here were worn by Roger Hassenforder during his career. Made from perforated black leather and fastened with laces, they date from a time when cycling shoes had a rigid sole designed for pedals fitted with toe clips and straps. Their narrow shape and lightweight design reflect the equipment used by professional cyclists in the mid-20th century.
The signs of wear visible on the leather, soles and laces serve as a reminder that these shoes are not merely commemorative accessories, but genuine competition kit. They thus serve as a particularly personal testament to the effort expended by the cyclist during training sessions and races.
Housed in the Noël Grégoire Collections, this pair of shoes evokes the career of a champion who was as brilliant as he was endearing, whose victories and pranks have left a lasting mark on the history of French cycling.
ITEM N° 141
HENRION Ludivine (B)
(23.01.1984)
Race number 14 worn at the Junior World Championships – Lisbon 2001
Originally from Namur, Ludivine Henrion discovered cycling during her childhood, having also played football. Blessed with natural sprinting ability, she quickly made her mark in the junior categories and won several national titles.
In October 2001, aged seventeen, she represented Belgium at the Junior Road World Championships held in Lisbon, Portugal. Wearing race number 14, she took part in the road race, which was won by the British rider Nicole Cooke, and finished in 53rd place. This appearance marked an important milestone in the young Belgian cyclist’s international career.
The race number shown here is made of white canvas and bears the number 14 printed in large black letters. A yellow strip bearing the name ‘Colnago’ runs along its lower edge. The presence of a safety pin is a reminder of how it was attached to the jersey during the competition.
Ludivine Henrion went on to confirm her talent by becoming Belgian junior road champion in 2002, then Belgian elite champion in 2007 and 2009. A bronze medallist at the 2006 World University Championships, she also finished eighth at the 2011 Road World Championships and represented Belgium at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Housed in the Noël Grégoire Collections, this race number is a valuable record of Ludivine Henrion’s early international career. It tells the story of a promising young Belgian cyclist who went on to become a double national champion and represent her country at the world’s biggest competitions.
