Take 35,000 cyclists from all over the world, throw in just about the most spectacular route you can do on a bicycle, and you get the Cape Argus Cycle Tour. There is just no other cycle race (mtb or road) that comes close to the vibe and experience of the Argus Cycle Tour.
I started in the more "serious" end of the field, seeded in Group C where riders can expect to finish the 110km race in at least 3h30, and weather permitting, have a fighting chance to break the "mythical" Sub-3 barrier. I knew a Sub-3 was probably going to be a bridge too far on the day, and was aiming for a somewhat "unsexy" but more realistic finishing time of about 3h15.
The start is something to behold. 1000's of nervous & exciting riders gathered in the City Centre. Lights everywhere, loud music pumping, TV cameras, celebrities, its hard to find the words to describe the vibe!
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| Group C - 2 minutes before start |
Starting at 6h24 the groups were set off at 2 minute intervals and at 6h34 it was group C's turn, what followed was the most nervous hour-and-a-half I have ever experienced on a bike. Racing along at about 40km/h in the middle of a massive group of about 400 riders, about every 5 minutes there would be some commotion at the front of the group, screams of WHO! WHO! WHO!, riders scattering in different directions, brakes screaming and the smell of burning rubber, you pass a scene of a small accident or near-accident and then chase off again to catch the front of the group, only for the whole shenanigans to repeat again in a few minutes.
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| Racing up Edinburgh drive |
Riding through the narrow twisty road through Kalkbaai, Vishoek en Simonstown, the pace slowed as we now had to labour through a lively headwind which finally put paid to any hopes of a Sub-3 I might have still secretly harbored.
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| The climb up Smitswinkel |
The steep climb just after Smitswinkel and long descent afterwards to Scarborough(riders clock up to 70km/h on this stretch) mercifully spread out the massive group (which by now was a mix of B,C and D riders) and I was able to somewhat appreciate the beautiful surroundings and not just trying to survive & keep out of trouble.
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| The start of Chapmans Peak |
The rest of my ride was fairly uneventful, except that my serious lack of skill in group riding was blatantly obvious. I spent a lot of energy chasing after small groups that always seemed to race along at a speed just slightly beyond my abilities or I was impatiently riding away from groups too slow for my liking. Riding past slower riders on the climbs, only to be caught again on the downhills (Just wasn't brave enough ride faster than 60km/h on the narrow, bumpy and twisty downhills).
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| Chapmans Peak |
The climb up Suikerbossie was special as always and with the music & commentators and cheering crowds you can almost imagine yourself as a world famous cyclist riding the Tour-de-France!
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| The infamous Suikerbossie |
After "Suffer-bossie" its a mostly downhill final 15km to the finish line through Kampsbaai and Green Point, I finished strongly at a time of 3h10h25.
Was a bit disappointed not running
that Sub-3 a bit closer, but it was still a big privilege to complete an
amazing ride like this successfully (and in one piece). Who knows, maybe next
year….
Take 35,000 cyclists from all over the world, throw in just about the most spectacular route you can do on a bicycle, and you get the Cape Argus Cycle Tour. There is just no other cycle race (mtb or road) that comes close to the vibe and experience of the Argus Cycle Tour.
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