In 1971, Jean-Pierre Monseré, wearing the rainbow jersey of world road champion, died while racing in the Grote Jaarmarktprijs in Retie, Belgium. Many cite this as one of the most tragic examples of the so-called “curse of the rainbow jersey,” but his death was only part of the sad story.
The so-called curse has been widely debated. Sure, bad things have befallen world champions—bad luck in a race or poor performances—but these can sometimes be attributed to the increased pressures faced by the wearer of the sacred jersey. However, this story is unlike any other. There’s even a great book about this phenomenon, The Curse of the Rainbow Jersey: Cycling’s Most Infamous Superstition. It’s a wild read!
But this story trumps them all
The Belgian had won the worlds in 1970 in Leicester, England at just 21 years old. It made him the second-youngest road world champion at the time.
But his promising career, and life, would would be abrpubly halted in March of 1971 when a motorist drove on to the course and collided with him, killing him instantly. His teammates screamed for help as they gazed at his lifeless body clad in the rainbow jersey.
The curse of the rainbow jersey
Chris Sidwells wrote a book about the terrible incident, called “The Prodigy, Jean-Pierre Monseré.” In the book, he describes the horrific day.
“On the Saturday, Monseré was second to his great friend and kindred spirit, Roger de Vlaeminck, then ninth the next day. One more kermesse in the little village of Retie, near Antwerp, and it was off to Milan. Monseré had wanted to race at Retie because it was the place where he had taken his first victory wearing the rainbow jersey the previous autumn. It was a sentimental thought which somehow encapsulates the west Flandrian’s generous nature. All through the race, his rainbow jersey was plain for the large crowd to see, at the front. Then disaster struck.”
Jean Pierre Monsere (Bel) winner of the 1970 World Championship. He tragically died 15 March 1971 during Grote Jaarmarktprijs race,when he colided with a car. pic.twitter.com/N0BjnVCMrh
— The World of Cycling (@twocGAME) September 23, 2021
This wasn’t the first tragedy to befall the Monseré family. His father had died in 1970 during the party for his son winning the rainbow jersey, suffering from a heart attack. His father was apparently unable to drink alcohol as it would exacerbate his heart condiiton. However in the celebrations of his son’s win,…
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