These are the People of the Bolandcycletour and Tourdeboland 2025
Herewith short AA-oriented intro to everyone who attended the tour this year (note: this is our version of you, not necessarily the truth). PS, it takes a village to raise a child/cyclist, so we included a few friendly faces from behind-the-scenes as well.
Jeff Orum — our most seasoned traveler on tour, who grabs a local sim, sans passport, in two minutes flat; cycled with Tom Ritchey and a whole lotta others, and he post pics and stories at jefforum.download
Linda Nelson — an accomplished triathlon and IRONMAN® vet who took on the road with consummate ease, after signing up for this tour of which she knew very little at the time. And yes, triathlon, like golf, is a sport.
Jennifer Burtner — also runs marathons in pro-athlete times, brought her MTB not only to South Africa but also on the Bolandcycletour, and stays on for the ABSA Cape Epic starting this weekend. We’ll cheer you on Jen!
Nici Audhlam-Gardiner — seamlessly swops the corporate world for the bicycle, climbs a hill like it doesn’t exist, and had the highest cadence on Tour. We have it on good authority that Tourdeboland not only filled, but exceeded, the Rouleur void.
Peter Cox — the good Doctor is ever the gentleman – and cycled the length of Africa all the way from North to South. Did you know that Penny Krohn, his sister, is the most prolific winner of the Argus ever? She is in our thoughts Peter!
Albert Ellis — business pro, annual Alpine climber on two wheels, and one of us. Casually taught me something I won’t forget: ‘never pass up an invite.’ And it says a lot about someone who returns a rental bike in such sparkling condition.
Nic Louw — infinite zest for life and should be on the payroll for regaling us with all his stories; Nic has been on too many a Tourdebolands over the years and sets the bar on how to retire. Thanks for the last supper, Nic & Astrid!
Willem Cloete — exchanged the boardroom for the saddle (at least during the day, as his laptop travelled with) and ever so comfortable in the peloton. Heard in passing: “Willem is ‘n lekker ou, hy moet weer saamkom”.
Elisebet Smit — Short term insurance specialist & flower-child, used to cycle 30,000km/yr. Had a setback with a car, and reset a bit on life, the universe and all else. Her comeback trail is great! She’s been a personal friend for 45 years.
Hanli Jacobs — PSG Namibia and staunch Afrikaanse meisie, she came to visit her alma mater and to cycle with us, for the first of many. All smiles and equally capable on/off the bicycle as she is in-front/behind a camera lens.
Chris van Zyl — international man of mystery and accurately described as “sjoe, daai man kan trap!” Observe and you will learn. He casually joined us for a few days in excess of 200kms each before his own EPIC. See you on the road!
Ellen Crabtree — always up for a laugh and a vital part of Tourdeboland’s many iterations, this wordsmith swamped with reporting season made time to teach us yoga, and I’m looking FWD to Chapman’s peak, soon.
Paul van Woudenberg — looks like a pro rider, courteous and accommodating on the bicycle, and unpretentious off it. Hope he enjoyed the tour as much as we did having him. Coffee at Luc’s next week.
Nico Coetzee — wants to believe that you will miss his bicycle horn phone notification sound, but even more so I want to read your reviews of the Bolandcycletour including Tourdeboland this year.
Carinus Lemmer — former national-level sprinter who thinks of a box & tells you about it (sorry, outside the box). And if you don’t know about his 3BO trackers by now, then we should be tracking you.
Lorenzo le Roux — this Epic Exxaro jersey winner loved his trip… he kept us safe while his enthusiastic nature couldn’t wait to burst out, while his infectious smile made us laugh and his piano skills made us cry.
John B Swart — our friendly varsity lecturer, who moved in behind the long-lens to capture our antics, share in the laughs, and stand in as soigneur-par-excellence for a few weeks every year, maybe more.
Mark Tiepelt — cool, calm, collected and never flustered, Mark handles large groups with ease. Evidently not his first rodeo and certainly not the last of his Cyclotourism South African bicycle tours.
Henk Blankenberg — published author and well-respected tour guide behind the scenes and in front. You’re only meeting him next year, because he was on a bicycle of his own during the last few weeks.
Anrienka Vlok — fellow alumni and staunch supporter of our tours kindly shared and suggested a range of drinks from the Heineken stable to keep us cultured and motived after glorious days in the saddle.
Barry Pauw — ten years of natural Enduren products, since our very first Tourdeboland, even though we’re leaning more towards beer and adult grape juice lately. See you on Sunday Barry, with the remaining branding.
Luane van Eck — powered by PVM nutritional sciences and despite this being South Africa’s original energy bar, introducing new brands to US customers on tour. The cola flavour was a hit, just ask Lorenzo, and me.
Dewald Victor — our local accommodation specialist on call both on and off the bicycle and will have has hands full with the bumper crowd edition coming to cycle in sunny South Africa on the Beyond Bolandcycletour.
Natasha Theron — attended this year only in heart and soul and was sorely (no pun intended) missed but will back in 2026 with the best recovery team and post ride massages from Transformalife in Stellenbosch.
