RIP: South African cycling great Willie Engelbrecht dies aged 62

One of South Africa’s all-time great cyclists, Willie Engelbrecht, has died at the age of 62.

He was the first cyclist to win a Commonwealth Games medal after the country’s re-admission to the international arena when he took the bronze in the men’s road race at the 1994 Games in Canada.

Won the then Argus Cycle Tour five times

An internationally-renowned rider, he rode professionally for teams that included Southern Sun/M-Net and Peaceforce Security between 1987 and 1995.

At his peak he won the then Argus Cycle Tour race five times in seven years, between 1988 and 1994. 

We also won the Rapport Tour, which was considered Africa’s “Tour de France”, in 1990.

Details of his death are still unclear, but in a recent Facebook post on 2 November he wrote: “I am overwhelmed with all the best wishes, Thank you a lot, it really means so much to me. It makes me feel worthy again. I will be back, end of story. Tough times never last but tough people do.”

Engelbrecht had been trying to recover from a serious cycling accident a year ago.

On 1 November he also wrote on Facebook: ”When I broke my back at the end of last year I never thought it would have such an impact on my life.

“I’m just very grateful that I’m alive today and ready to get up and pick up the pieces of life and business.

“I haven’t been on a bike since the accident and have to deal with continuous pain that hopefully will get better in time. I am looking forward to getting back into the cycling fraternity.”

The South African website extends its condolences to the family and friends of Willie Engelbrecht.

What’s your fondest memory of Willie Engelbrecht?

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