Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour Review

Race date: Sunday, 14 March 2010

Distance: 110km

The Pick n Pay Cycle Tour is South Africa’s largest cycle race and boasts to be the largest timed event in the World. There is good reason for this. The race is really amazing, my favourite road race, the size of the event spectacular and the views breathtaking as you go whizzing by on your bike.

This year, I decided to drop a few groups back from where I was supposed to, and got my brother to do the same, in order to ride with my dad. Now, at the age of 60, his goal was to do a sub 3 hour race, whicth is a goal for many of the riders starting in the front groups. My aim was to help him where ever possible to get him there. This was actually the 1st time the 3 of us had ridden a race together and was something quite special and what the true essence of cycling is all about; sharing special moments with friends and family.

Well on our way to the start line, it was already clear that our goal may need to be readjusted due to a strong south-easter which had started blowing over night. Not quite as bad as last year but still strong enough to be unpleasant. The disappointing part was the day before was fantastic and almost wind still and would have been perfect race conditions. From the start, it was essential to stay in the group as long as possible, but going up Edinbrough Dr. we couldn’t hold on, despite all the crowds lining the street, and were left in a small bunch of about 7 riders which had to fight our way through the wind in an attempt to catch the group ahead. That did not happen. From there the route goes up Boyes Dr. which has never seemed so steep and long before. Luckily that soon past and we were back onto the coastal road and flying though all the small towns were all the locals go all out, making every rider feel like a pro with all the festivities going along the sidewalks. By now the front riders of the E bunch had caught us and we had a huge pack to ride with all the way to Smitswinkel and the point. Once again, we just fell off the front bunch going up Smitswinkel, but luckily we were all warmed up by now and that section of the route is downhill, even though it looks flat, and we could easily cruise after them at about 60km/h and real them in slowly.

This part of the race, all the way to past Misty Cliffs and to Kommetjie, is the most beautify part of the race, and being mostly flat and fast, you really feel great. My brother and I did catch the group ahead only to turn around and find we were the only ones. My dad was a little bit back down the road so we sat up and waited for him to catch up. From Kommetjie, you turn right into a headwind, like every year at that point. I was feeling strong though and decided to lead the group. We even caught a group and I decided to keep going, went to the front of that group and lead it till we caught the group in front of them as well. At this point, I had a look around and once again, had neither my dad nor brother nearby so I had another break while I sat up and waited for the others to catch up. By now we were at the bottom of Chapmans Peak and my dad suddenly found his climbing legs and now it was my brother who needed a helping hand from time to time but we all did well and quickly made it down the other side, through Hout Bay and to Suikerbossie. I hate this climb and have a mental block when it comes to it but we all made it up at a steady pace. I had time to chat to a lady in her late 40’s, I guess, who was riding near us and was getting a lot of support from the side of the road. It turns out that this was her 21st Argus... very impressive.

By the top, I had finished my bottle and by brother had finished off both of his and my 2nd one as well so I quickly stopped to fill bottles for the 2 of us. As I stared down the hill after them, I was met by a VERY strong headwind making it a mission to catch them. At places I was doing less than 30km/h on the downhill due to the wind. I caught my brother at the bottom but my dad had managed to stay on the bunch so was a bit ahead. The next few kilos were the hardest I’ve done from some time but I was determined to catch my dad’s group. There was no way we had ridden all this way together, only to be split close to the end and finish separately. We eventually caught them leaving Camps Bay and made our way quickly through the streets to the final stretch, Beach road. At this stage, your adrenalin starts pumping and I started making my way to the front for a sprint at the end, but made a huge miscalculation and ended up riding past everyone and was out in the wind by myself, hoping to find the finish around the next bend. I was wrong and still had a few bands and a few hundred meters to go. The bunch caught me quite quickly and I only had the legs to stay with them until the final bend where everyone streamed past but we were all home safely and together, in a respectable time of 3:31.




Article written by
Craig Metherell