The municipality of Wielsbeke is showing off an impressive mural in honour of former cyclist and café owner Boudewijn Devos. The work of art was painted on the facade of the house of his son Patrick. In this way, the legend of this cycling hero remains alive in Wielsbeke.
Boudewijn Devos (°30/09/1929) was a talented young rider: as an amateur rider, he won many races. As a professional cyclist, he participated in several races such as the Tour of Morocco and the Omloop van de Grensstreek Moeskroen; the latter he also won. After he hung up his bicycle in 1957, he started a café and bicycle shop on the Heirweg. Café De Sportvriend became a household name in the surrounding area - just like Boudewijn Devos himself: he was known and loved by everyone in Wielsbeke.
In the "Boudewijn & Devos" work of art, the young cycling champion Boudewijn stands arm in arm with his older self: Boudewijn as a convivial pub owner. Central to the design is his smile, which twice speaks volumes, and which will welcome passers-by to Wielsbeke for many years to come.
Café De Sportvriend was demolished in late 2020 - three years after Devos' death - to make the intersection of Heirweg and Abeelestraat more traffic-safe. Devos is now immortalised on the site of the former café.
