TEBAG SPEZIAL - 1950s - EROICA
Tebag Spezial professional team bicycle from the 1950's. During their time as a professional team, Tebag boasted riders Gino Bartali, Hugo Koblet, Jean Goldschmidt, Emilio Croci-Torti and Ferdi Kubler among many other heroes of the golden era. Tebag was a team sponsor and did not produce bicycles for their riders. Gino Bartali rode a Legnano branded Tebag during his time on the team. This bicycle had a previous life before the rider joined Tebag, where the Swiss team's paint scheme & decals were applied.
Upon closer inspection the underlying paint cover revealed from years of painta, is lilac pink. This is particularly noticeable around the headtube and rear seat / chain stays. The bicycle was previously used for racing as part of the Mercier cycling team. The bike was then transformed when the rider joined Tebag. Only two Belgian riders were on the Mercier team prior to joining Tebag.
Marcel Rijckaert (Tebag 1955) and Lionel Van Brabant (Tebag 1954). We believe the bicycle to be Rijckaert's as it matches his known sizing. Moreover, Rijckaert was with Mercier (5 consecutive years from 1949) for a far longer stretch before joining Tebag. Van Brabant joined multiple teams in the intermediary period before Tebag.
Marcel Rijckaert is a national Belgian champion but often remembered for being the mechanic of a certain compatriot, Eddy Merckx.
The bicycle was found under the Oerlikon Velodrome in Zurich, where the Tebag team would complete their training. The bicycle has serial number 19476. This Tebag bicycle is exceptionally rare with much patina and history. The bike has accrued a beautifully aged patina over the years. The 1950s Tebag Spezial is fully working, ready to ride and display.
Frame size (C-T)
57cm Top tube length (C-C) 57cm Gears 8 Frame / fork tubing Italian Front derailleur Le Simplex Rear derailleur Le Simplex Crank Le Simplex Brake callipers Weinmann Shifters Le Simplex Seat post / Saddle Brooks B15 Wheel rims Weinmannn Champion Du Monde Tyres Hutchinson SuperSprint Handlebar / Stem /
