Cycling fans' most precious souvenirs revealed

published 9 December 2016

As a rule, cyclists are great collectors of things: inner tubes awaiting repair, worn-out allen keys, 'just in case' chain links, old jerseys and bikes, of course.

However, among the jumble of bike parts and memorabilia, there is usually something that a cyclist hold most dear.

Had the pleasure of meeting Enrico Gasparotto just after he had become Italian national champion. We were meeting another Italian at the airport, but he wanted to travel to the hotel with me, so that I could teach him some "bad words", as the peloton apparently swears in English. Later that week he gave me a Liquigas Italian champion’s jersey, signed, as a thank you. Still got it, and the memories of a magical week.

We were at the Tour de Romandie in 2012, rooting for Bradley Wiggins. We were standing near the front on the final presentation when he won. He was handed a cane box of goodies from the local (apparently famous) deli and he came to the end of the stage and handed it down to me. We were obviously very thrilled, although to be fair the contents were obviously not actually intended to be eaten as it was impossible to slice the extremely stale bread! We still have the cane box however, which is a treasured possession and known as 'Brad's Box'.

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