South African cycling legend Ertjies Bezuidenhout has passed away at the age of 56.
Bezuidenhout’s cousin, Jacques van Vuuren, confirmed the news on Facebook on Wednesday.
Bezuidenhout suffered a massive stroke on Sunday, a few hours after completing a 103km race in Brakpan on the East Rand. He died at the Pretoria hospital where he was being cared for. The race was the first that he had done in 22 years and had already begun preparing or it six months ago
Bezuidenhout won the Rapport Cycle Tour in 1984 and also bagged three Argus titles – in 1981, 1984 and 1986.
He was a very strong climber and won the King of the Mountain title several times during the Rapport tours.
He rode in the same era as legends such as Robbie McIntosh and Alan van Heerden, who died in a car crash a few years ago.
Due to South Africa’s sporting isolation in the 1980′s, Bezuidenhout at times participated in Europe under a false name and passport to test himself against the world’s best.
Bezuidenhout won the Rapport Cycle Tour in 1984 and also bagged three Argus titles – in 1981, 1984 and 1986.
Source: Supersport
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