Day 12- Tuesday, April 11
Final Day of Adventure!
Today was a treasure
hunt. I went into the heart of 
monuments to cycling’s great heroes. First was the Eddy Merckx “fietsroute” in Kluisbergen. These are marvelous cycling routes throughout
Up the highway to Moorslede I started my search for Cyriel
Van Hauwaert’s statue. After driving around the
search brought me to a small bike shop.
Their English was limited but the directions were perfect. Just outside the town’s sports center sat the
statue dedicated in 1983, nine years after his death at the age of 91.
Next stop was a special one
for me. Lichtervelde was the home of
Henri Van Lerberghe.
Winner of the Tour of Flanders in 1919, Van Lerberghe’s
story is legendary in
I stopped at a wonderful pub
on the City square for directions to the plaque and of course a “demie”. The owner
was a bike racer, who raced against Roger De Vlaeminck,
and offered great stories. According to
local folk lore Van Lerberghe was during his solo
breakaway came to a railroad crossing and rode through the passing train
(?). So when
After a second “demie” I headed out for Kanegem
and a memorial to Briek Schotte. This one was easier to find. Right in the town’s main street was the Schotte likeness in bronze.
The statue was dedicated in 1996 to the town’s hero born in 1919.
All in all a very rewarding
treasure hunt. Not only did I pay my respects
Belgian heroes but I met some wonderfully passionate Flanderians.
I will visit that Pub
again!
