The Tour de France organiser, Mr Jean Marie Le Blanc, attended a commemoration service in Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow yesterday, at the grave of the Irish cyclist, Shay Elliott.
Mr Le Blanc also opened an exhibition of trophies and memorabilia of Elliott's life in the Town Hall, Bray. He recalled that Elliott had worn the yellow jersey for three days in the 1963 Tour de France and he praised his dedication to the sport, fair-mindedness and team spirit.
The Wicklow county manager, Mr Blaise Treacy, described Elliott as a virtually unrecognised hero. It had taken 25 years for another Irishman to emulate his achievement in the Tour.
He said it was very fitting that Mr Elliott was buried in Kilmacanogue with the Tour passing through the village tomorrow.
A Shay Elliott memorial stone has been erected at Glenmalure by members of the Bray Wheelers Cycling Club and each year a memorial race is held in the hills where he trained.
Mr Treacy recalled that Elliott, while remaining relatively unknown at home, was a leading figure in the European circuit. "His most enduring quality was without a doubt his strong sense of loyalty to his team, indeed he often forfeited his own personal success to champion the cause of his fellow team members," said Mr Treacy.
The exhibition traces Shay Elliott's achievements at home and in Europe and features photographs, videos and trophies as well as the yellow jerseys worn by him in the Tour de France and the Tour of Spain.
