The Cyclist Memorial

Also popularly known as "Black Devil in a Soldier's Suite" the sculpture harks back to the 1st Regiment Carabiniers-Cyclists legendary exploits at the battle of the Silver Helmets at Halen,Limburg on the 12th August 1914 .

The main statue commemorates the city of Genk's sponsorship with the unit, which dates back to 26th September 1970. The statue, and anniversary commemorative plaque reside in a green space near the pond, between Dieplaan and Eerste Cyclisternlaan.To emphasize its importance and connectivity to the town it is in the centre of the city not far from the new town hall.

One can give much credit to the affiliation coming to fruition to the Genk born Jan van de Kerkof.He served with the 1st Carabiniers-Cyclists between July 1963 to March 1964 as a reserve officer at the garrison of Spich in Troisdorf ,Germany .He has since come on to be a renown local architect and Chairman of the Limburg Cyclist Association.Also back in 1971 he took up the position of Chairman-coordinator between Genk and the First Regiment Carabiniers-Cyclists at the Spich barracks.The garrison was part of the Belgian Army of occupation in West Germany from 1946,until that country joined NATO in 1955, and thus the garrison became part of the defence of West Germany contingent .Spich was the final Belgian barracks to close in the Federal Republic of Germany on the 31st August 2004,while the "Black Devils " left in 2002 .And Troisdorf and Genk have been twinned since 1990.

Every year, on the last Saturday of September the town of Genk organises a Cyclist Day for the veterans of the unit.

The 125cm high bronze statue is mounted on a brick base, which is 115cm high and 70cm wide .It was created by local sculptor Moniek Bleck, cast in the Netherlands at the Koninklijke Eijsbouts bell foundry in Asten, and was inaugurated on the 15th May 1993.The pedestal sites in the centre of a 600cm circle of floral spokes representing a wheel of a bicycle.

100cm in front of the circle is the approximately 35cm square blue stone with an aluminium plaque with black engraved letters.Dated 30th September 2000 it marks 30 years of sponsorship by the city for the 1st Regiment Carabiniers-Cyclsits.

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Source

• Text: Ian Paterson
• Photos: Ian Paterson
• http://www.voof1cy.be/home.php
• History circle Genk:Heidebloemke Genk