The Belgian team, Tour de France, 1930s
World Championships cycling

The blue mystery unravelled. Why the Belgians are not contesting the World Championships in red

At a world championship, participants distinguish themselves by wearing country-specific jerseys that refer to the colours of the national flag or to the typical colour of their country. Think of the orange jersey of the Dutch national team or the azure of Italy. The Belgian national cycling team is an exception with its blue jerseys. There is no blue to be seen on our national flag and yet 'our' cycling selection has been racing in this colour for more than half a century. KOERS investigated and reconstructed the why of this cycling vestigial mystery.

It is a striking observation. Unlike other national sports teams, the Belgian cycling selection does not dress in red. This means that the national cycling team cannot place itself in the same league as the Red Devils/Red Flames (football), the Red Lions/Red Panthers (hockey) or the Belgian Lions/ Belgian Cats (basketball). Because of the blue main colour, Van Aert and co. cannot connect to derivatives such as the Yellow Tigers (volleyball) or the Black Devils (rugby) who allude to the national tricolour. Until 1946, there was a link. The Belgian team competed in the World Championships in black, and then in 1948 they switched to a blue jersey. This change is rooted in the Belgian Tour adventures before and shortly after the Second World War.

The Belgian team: Emile Joly, Georges Ronsse and Fred Hamerlinck, world championship, 1930
During the World Cup in 1930, the Belgian team (Emile Joly, Georges Ronsse and Fred Hamerlinck) was equipped with a national jersey for the first time. Until then, brand or club jerseys were common. According to a newspaper report from 1931, it is not an obligation to compete in a World Cup wearing the national jersey: "Van Hevel and De Waele wear the national jersey, Rebry is in blue. He is asked to cover the letters on his jersey. A formality that will soon be over." (collection KOERS)
Jean Aerts, Gust Danneels and Gaston Rebry, World Championship in Floreffe, 1935
Before the start of the World Championships in Floreffe in 1935. Gust Danneels (centre) starts in his Belgian Champion jersey. His teammates Jean Aerts (left) and Gaston Rebry are wearing a different jersey. (collection KOERS)
The Belgian team, Tour de France, 1930s
In the 1930s, the Belgian national team ('the Black Squadron') often had to contend with its heat-affecting black jerseys during the Tour. The negative consequences of the black colour pop up in the press every now and then. (collection KOERS)

After racing in white for one year, the Belgian team appeared for the first time in blue at the start of a World Championship in 1948. Over the years, the national jersey has changed design several times.

National jersey Eddy Pauwels, Tour de France 1961
© collection KOERS
National jersey Eddy Pauwels, Tour de France 1961. During the Tour, in contrast to the World Championships, sponsors are allowed on the jersey. The sponsor names on this jersey date from after '61.
National jersey of Jean-Pierre Monseré, world cycling championships in Leicester, 1970
© collection KOERS
In 1970 there is still a national jersey with a 'classic' design. This shirt was used by Jean-Pierre Monseré during the World Cup he won in '70. Only the order of the Belgian colours on the sleeves dared to change in that period. In 1972, subtle sponsor names were already visible on the blue shirt.
National cycling jersey of Belgium, late 1980
© collection KOERS
At the end of the eighties the look of the national jersey changes for the first time. The Belgian Cycling Federation has a sponsor commitment with the ASLK bank and that results in a modified design with white sides, produced by the Belgian company Vermarc. For the professional cyclists the white areas show the names of the team sponsors; for the juniors (like here) the name of the bank is printed.
National cycling jersey of Belgium, 1992
© collection KOERS
In 1992 there was another change. Former youth national coach and logistics manager Rony Vanmarcke: "At the suggestion of track coach Patrick Sercu, the BWB had jerseys made in Italy. The jerseys had the national tricolour printed crosswise, starting from one point on the chest or all the way across from top to bottom."
Cycling jersey for the Belgian national team, Peter Farazijn, 1990s
© collection KOERS
The design with the diagonal tricolour was also adopted by Bioracer, which took over production in the mid-1990s. Albeit with a modified pattern. Johan Museeuw, for example, became World Champion in a shirt showing the Belgian tricolour in a 'flamed' form.
Cycling jersey of the Belgian national team, Peter Farazijn, 1990s
© collection KOERS
Three years later, the flame is still going strong. Among others, Peter Farazijn assists team leader Frank Vandenbroucke during the World Championships in Verona in 1999.
Belgian national team cycling jersey, Jurgen Van Goolen, 2002
© collection KOERS
In 2002, the Belgian team competes at the World Championships in Zolder in a new design. The flamed colours are replaced by more subtle tricolour blocks.
Belgian national team cycling jersey, Jurgen Van Goolen, 2002
© collection KOERS
This personalised jersey belonged to Jurgen Van Goolen, who finished 44th at the World Championships in Zolder.
Timetrial suit of Marc Wauters, World Championships Cycling in Verona, 2004
© collection KOERS
In 2004, the classic pattern was returned to: a blue jersey with a three-colour band in the middle. This cycling suit was used by Marc Wauters during the World Time Trial Championships in Verona.
Cycling jersey of the Belgian team meant for Sep Vanmarcke, World Championships Cycling in Harrogate, 2019
© collection KOERS
This jersey dates back to 2019 and was intended for Sep Vanmarcke, who was dropped from the World Championships selection at the last minute. The Belgians will also be wearing this jersey at the World Championships in 2021.
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