This year's Luderitz Speed Challenge had looked like it was going to be significant from day one, when some surprisingly fast times were recorded in less than perfect conditions.
 
When the South African wind machine finally kicked in, several riders were edging over the 50 knot mark at the end of the 500 metre lagoon straight, and the Outright Speed Record looked like it could be there for the taking.

Then, on the 12th October, with 45 knots of breeze and using an 8m kite, Frenchman Alexandre Caizergues stepped up.  His run was extraordinary, and when the water and dust had settled and everyone looked up to the time-board, there it was: 100.19km/hr, or 54.1 knots.  Alex hadn't just broken, he had annihilated the existing Outright Speed record and broken the 100 km/hr, all in one brief run.  And history had been made.

Check out this video and a few pics from the day: