Three finish first Flèche Vélocio bicycle ride
Un succès! A number of Randfonteiners completed the first Flèche Vélocio cycle event to be held in SA.
The first Flèche Vélocio held in South Africa started in Randgate on Saturday, 15 April and turned out to be un succès. The first-ever Flèche Vélocio was completed in France in 1947.
The Herald met the six very excited cyclists just before they took off on their journey. The Rooimiere team comprising Charmaine van der Merwe, Amelia and Johan van Duyn, (tandem), Marjorie Faber, Johann Williamson and André van der Merwe left the Randgate Spar at 8am.
Their control stops were at Fochville, Parys, Deneysville, Villiers, Three Rivers and Henley-on-Klip. The race finished at the Lido Hotel in Eikenhof. Marjorie, Johann and Andre completed the 360 kilometres in 24 hours. Some of the others outdid themselves by cycling 374 kilometres in 24 hours.
Wian van der Merwe from Mapogo Security in Randfontein drove the support vehicle, sponsored by Tommy Martin. Andre Grové from Tommy Martin was also present to wish the cyclists well.
Randgate Spar sponsored refreshing beverages and energy snacks for the cyclists.
Two other Gauteng teams, Chain Gang and Flèche Crèche finished on 502 kilometres and 405 kilometres within 24 hours respectively. Thys de Beer from Randmark Running Club formed part of the Flèche Crèche Team.
André van der Merwe said, “We really enjoyed this! It is just a pity that Johan and Charmaine got very ill after completing 270 kilometres. We will definitely do this again next year.”
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