Johannesburg. - South African cycling legend Ertjies Bezuidenhout died today, said the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).

Bezuidenhout, 56, suffered a stroke shortly after taking part in a road race in Brakpan on Sunday.

The 103-kilometre race was Bezuidenhout's first in 22 years, and Sascoc said he had been preparing for the race for the past six months.

"Ertjies was one of our best-known cyclists and a true credit to the sport," Sascoc CEO Tubby Reddy said in a statement.

"There's no doubting that the popularity of the sport was due in no small measure to people introduced to the sport through his exploits.

"We wish his family and friends, and also the cycling fraternity, well at this very sad time."

Bezuidenhout, a gifted climber, won the Argus Cycle Tour three times --in 1981, 1984 and 1986 -- and also secured the Rapport Cycle Tour title in 1984. - Sapa