To the press he was Alan van Heerden , to the public he was the absolute darling of South African cycling , to all of us who raced with and against him he was the ? Idol? , both on and off the bike , to those of us fortunate to race on the same Team as the Idol we knew him as Van or Al , the good guy who always wanted to win . To the European cycling media and press he was Alain Vanherden , the rider with bundles of talent and pure class just waiting to be let loose and win . Due to the political era at the time , we ( South Africans ) raced and competed in Europe with false id?s and Nationality?s ., hence Alain?s 21 second places in a single season in the Professional pelaton and a Paris Roubaix podium . To win the risk was arrest and deportation . Van didn?t give away the wins , no never - in Europe he was not permitted to win . Second place was simply not good enough for Van , he always gave credit to those who beat him , not that he got beat often , but arriving second was considered the first looser and totally un acceptable . Al negotiated my first ever Professional cycling contract ,with Team Highway Electrical , from then on we were team mates for the best part of ten years with Professional teams Southern Sun , Southern Sun Peugeot , M Net , Imperial , Snowflake Blue Ribbon and AVH ( Alan Van Heerden Cycles ) . Fantastic years . Al - many many thanks for all the fun times , from the Dunlop days in Rhodesia , The many Rapport Toers , Springbok teams and the adventures of living and racing in Belgium and France - fond memories always . I will miss you , take care and may you rest in peace . Sincere condolences to Wendy , Shaun and Tyron . Allan Wolhuter Boulder Colorado USA RooiMan2009-12-18 18:15:27
