Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Rising cycling star seeks return of treasured bicycle
WHEN the clock strikes at 5 in the morning, some of us will rise and shine and prepare ourselves for the day ahead.
However, 5am may no longer be a good time for one of South Africa’s aspiring young cycling talents, Shameeg Salie.
On Tuesday, Salie awoke to news that his Vitus Sean Kelly Special Edition bicycle, which cost about R80 000, as well as his father’s bike, had been stolen from their Grassy Park home at around 4am while he and the rest of his family were asleep.
Salie, 21, is one of South Africa’s brightest prospects on two wheels.
His aim was to win this year’s 40th edition of the world’s largest individually-timed race, the Cape Town Cycle Tour before it was cancelled due to strong winds.
“My mother was awake when she heard a noise coming from the garage.
“She thought it was the cats; she checked what was making the noise and discovered the garage door was half open,” Salie said.
“She immediately informed my father, he went to check it out and saw that both mine and his bike had been stolen. He woke me up and broke the news to me, I was completely devastated. I’m just glad they never got into the house and the family is okay.”
After inspecting the garage, Salie and his family discovered how the perpetrators gained access.
“They sawed the lock on the garage door with some kind of saw and broke it off; it had to be more that one person, because one person cannot carry two bikes,” he added.
“My morale was broken, but I have to keep going, you know, if I eventually want to reach the goals I’ve set for myself. There aren’t many events taking place during this time, so that’s one good thing.
“I am currently using my uncle’s bike, which is rather old and not as good as mine, but I can at least keep training and earn some money.”
The local authorities have been notified, but there have been no leads in the investigation yet. Local bicycle shops have been notified as well.