What: Cape Argus
Where: Cape Town, South Africa
Why: The world Biggest Mass Participation Bike Race in the World, some 35,000 entries
Its sunny there
When: March every Year, normally the second Sunday.
Difficulty: Its 109km's around the Cape with 4 climbs, but not climbs like in a Grand Fondo, or Etape (climbs a bit bigger like you get on a ride in the surrey hills)
2008, is the 4th year in a row I have done this race. There is nothing like riding in the Sun of the Southern Hemisphere in March.
March of 2008 had a few of us from London travel down, and compete. Four of us were A batch (which was a 6:30am start.) we entered a team entry, as well as our individual
A-Batch, I think was a pen of about 200 riders, so at 6:30 they let us go
I wont bore you with the tale of the race, but I will bullet point a few highlights
- From the gun the pace was brisk
- Many of us sat in and sucked on the wheels most of the way ("many" being mainly me)
- Few crashes, nothing that we as a group got tangled up in
- Few good ones that had very expensive carbon bikes flying through the air, and a couple goodies within 1km of the line..
- the bunch separated on the second the last climb, re-formed and then split wide open on the last climb (1km, 6%, baking heat - I know what you are thinking - that it doesn't sound all that hard!! but it was fast)
- Average speed of 41km/h
- Climbing of 1500mtrs
- The day had a max temp of 37c
The four of us finished within 3 minutes of each other
Julius was fastest, he got around in 2 hours 40, followed by Rudie a minute of so later, then me and Ian another minute behind.
There was a number of others that came down they had slower seedings, and came in between 3 hours and 3 hours 40.
Check out www.cycletour.co.za, or put "cape argus" in Google.
- The Race is seeded, so that depending upon race results or previous finishes, depends on what time you start
- Your seeding is important as it will determine the ability of the group and will basically set the speed you will go around in
- Last year I meet Jan Ulrich, and the first year I meet Big Mig (Miguel Indurain) was a treat.
- They really like Internationals, and have a specific group for them, and give them loads of opportunity to register.
- I think they release pens of about 500 up to 1000 riders every 5 minutes starting from A seeding at 6:30, up to ZZ which is somewhere around 10:30ish
- The Race is much better organised than any other mass ride you will ever do, you have no idea that there are 30,000 + other cyclists in town and about to ride the same 109km's you are.
- Its only 109km's so over in 3 hours +/- so not a 8+ hour etape's etc. The people range from wanting a nice easy pedal around, to eyeballs out. (and no one shouts at you in French to do your turn on the front)
If you are interested in doing this next year let me know, I can help you out.
I have it pretty sorted as to renting apartments, a few good training/warm up rides, the good bars and restaurants.
Even a place that is a decent cafe during the day, BUT at night becomes a VERY dodgy Gay Bar.. BUT IT HAS FREE INTERNET, and as long as you take a "Peter" they focus on him and you can sync up your email!
I dont have any decent photo's, but use your imagination
- Sexy Blond SA girls cheering you on
- Sun Shine
- Cycling
- Few Cars on the roads
- Riding along the coast with white sand beaches
- The odd random Monkey on the side of the road
- 15 rand to the pound!!
- Sun Tan Lotion, not Arm and Leg warmers
The only Disappointment I had was that Desmond Tutu, and Nelson Mandela weren't there to cheer us home.. But I think they probably had better things to do!