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How you can still race if you missed the entry cutoff

Last updated: 8 October 2021

If you’re not riding, be a part of it by supporting the thousands of bike riders at key supporter points when the race happens this Sunday, 10 October 2021. Find out more about spectating this year’s Cape Town Cycle Tour here .

WATCH THE RACE ONLINE + ROAD CLOSURES

The race will be broadcast live between 6am - 12:30pm on Sunday, 10 October 2021, on the  The Cape Town Cycle Tour Facebook page . If you are going to be out and about, here’s how to avoid the road closures .

COVID-19 SAFETY FOR PARTICIPANTS

Due to Covid-19 protocols and safety measures, all cyclists need to be fully vaccinated or able to undergo rapid antigen testing. Participants who are fully vaccinated, need to bring their proof of vaccination card and ID. Those who are unvaccinated, will need to undergo an antigen test, which costs R250.  

WHERE TO WATCH AND WHAT TO DO 

Edinburgh Drive Edinburgh Drive also known as Wynberg Hill is an early test of the riders’ mettle because of its steep gradient. Your support will be most welcome, especially to those who at that point feel that they may not have trained enough for the race. Getting There: It’s a pretty long slog but you can catch a train to Plumstead and walk to the top. Alternatively, you can drive there and find roadside parking, or park in the lot opposite Victoria Hospital. Glencairn Beach This is a flatter part of the route where racers normally maintain a quick pace. Watch them zoom by and spur on those who may still be feeling flustered after Edinburgh Drive. If it’s a scorcher outside, you can head down over the train tracks to take a dip in the tidal pool . Getting There: Road closures rule out using your car to get here. Instead, grab a train to Glencairn Station and make a day of it. Simon’s Town It’s a pretty hectic slog along this section and, depending on the time you’re there, most riders will be going pretty slow, some may even be struggling. Help them along with words of encouragement and maybe even a cold Coke (although there is a water point in the vicinity). While you’re there, why not set some time aside to explore Simonstown. Getting There: As with Glencairn, driving here is out of the question, but a select amount of trains go all the way to Simonstown. Noordhoek With the biggest test lying just ahead (Chapman’s Peak) every rider will be a little nervous heading through this section, especially beginners who have no idea what they’re getting into. A little “you can do it” will go a long way to give them the motivation to take on the challenge. If you get tired of cheering the cyclists on why not head to  Noordhoek Farm Village which is home to the famous Cafe Roux .

Getting There: With no train station and no escape from road closures, this vantage point is best saved for those within walking distance of Noordhoek's main road. Hout Bay: Tired, but relieved cyclists will be coming through the Hout Bay area after mastering the gruelling Chapman’s Peak. The experienced ones will know what lies ahead, the inexperienced may only have heard the legends. You can head to the Bay Harbour Market for a break between clapping. Getting There: If you’re a smart driver and use the open sections of the M4 and M3, you can find and access a good viewing point with your car, especially if you live nearby. Suikerbossie This is what lies ahead of Hout Bay. It’s neither steep nor long, but Suikerbossie has become a legend along this route because most riders are spent after what came before. Your support is probably most needed here. It’s close to the final stretch, so a little reminder of this could provide some motivation. 

Getting There: Strictly for those who live close by.

Sea Point The final stretch: jubilant riders will only be thinking about the finish line. They may or may not need your support anymore, but it’s satisfying to see them flying along after the long and hard route is done and dusted. You can do this while having a drink and a bite to eat at Strolla Restaurant and Bar.

A CHANCE TO RACE AFTER ENTRY HAS:  HOW TO SUBSTITUTE If you miss out on an entry, your other option is to substitute another rider. It’s important to do this properly because if you don’t, you and the rider you’re substituting for can be banned from entering again.

Packing Your Bike This isn’t as simple as it looks. Here are some pointers on getting your bike into a box or bag:

Turn the handlebars parallel to the frame This is to make the bike streamlined enough to fit into a regulation bike bag or box. You can also remove the handlebars to make it fit, but that creates extra admin when you arrive and can mess up your bike fit.

Lower the saddle This will ensure that the bike fits the height dimensions of a standard box or bag. You may want to go for a quick bike fitting when you get to Cape Town to get the saddle height perfect again. Remove the pedals Like turning the handles, removing the pedals is for width reasons. Deflate your tyres Fluctuating air pressure levels in plane cabins can make tyres gain pressure, this causes tyre burst and pinched flats mid-flight. Letting out some air helps to avoid that. Place the bike in a bag, box If you follow the procedure above, your bike should fit perfectly into your bike bag or box.

What can be checked in as luggage If you’re bringing all your own stuff, you’ll need to know what you can and can’t check into luggage. Here are the regulations commonly used by airlines.

• Inflation pumps filled with division 2.2 carbon dioxide non-flammable gas will be accepted for transportation as checked baggage only. Make sure you declare this when checking in for your flight.
• Wheel bags cannot be carried as hand luggage and need to be checked in as checked baggage. The standard checked baggage allowance will apply.
• If you do have more baggage than you are allowed, you can pay for the extra baggage beforehand or at the airport.
• Spare wheels need to be packed properly before they are checked in. At check-in, the spare wheels will be tagged with a limited release tag.
• Speedometers and any other electronic equipment, as well as helmets and shoes, can be taken on as hand luggage.

Courtesy of Kulula Airlines

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Here are the 2022 Cape Town Cycle Tour winners!

The victors of the Cape Town Cycle Tour have been crowned — and some folks in the Mother City are still curled up in bed!

The Cape Town Cycle Tour is a 109km marvel that starts and finishes in the shadows of Table Mountain. To safely usher so many cyclists around the route requires precision planning, with cut-offs strictly enforced and sweep vehicles at the ready to pick up those bodies and bikes that can’t be fixed by the on-route mechanical and medical angels.

Also read: Here are the road closures for the Cape Town Cycle Tour this weekend

It’s a fiercely competitive and highly anticipated event that lures in cyclists from around the world. This year, the wet weather proved to be no danger for the best of the best. Here are the winners of the “most beautiful bike race in the world”.

“Despite the inclement conditions this morning just over 17 500 of the 22 500 entrants started,” Cycle Tour Director, David Bellairs said. “It just shows how committed our riders are to supporting the event no matter what the weather.”

22-year-old Marc Pritzen on Team Qhubeka is the 2022, 109 kilometre male champion, making this his first win! With less than ten kilometres to go, it was a battle until the end between Pritzen, Sascha Weber and HB Kruger. Kruger was the favourite to win, but the former SA champ pedalled his way to gold. 

“Winning this race is the dream,” Pritzen beamed. “I’ve won many races in South Africa but this is the biggest one. The weather suited me because I like it when it’s wet. So when I woke up this morning I knew that this was my best chance at winning.”

Men’s Elite Race Results:

• First place: Marc Pritzen / 02:37:55
• Second place: Sascha Weber
• Third place: HB Kruger

WATCH Marc’s finish:

MEN: What a win for former SA champ @MarcPritzen Your 2022 Cycle Tour champ! #ctcycletour pic.twitter.com/r5roi05B2S — Cape Town Cycle Tour (@CTCycleTour) March 13, 2022

Mauritian-born Kim Le Court de Billot on Team Galileo Risk-Infinity brought home gold for the 78 kilometre women’s elite event that started in FishHoek. It was a battle between some of the best! Le Court de Billot took on Candice Lill and Hayley Preen in a fierce sprint finish.

“It was probably my most exciting Cycle Tour yet. I knew, coming into today, that the women’s field was really strong and this Cycle Tour was probably the best one to win,” Le Court De Billot said. “It was also great to win in front of my whole family as well.”

Women’s Elite Race Results:

• First place: Kim Le Court De Billot / 02:08:45
• Second place: Hayley Preen
• Third place: Candice Lill

WATCH the last four kilometres:

#Women : We're leaving @KimLeCourt @HayleyPreen & @Candice_MTB with 4km to go. Stand by for a fierce sprint finish. #CTCycleTour pic.twitter.com/5LIQo6RYzs — Cape Town Cycle Tour (@CTCycleTour) March 13, 2022

Treat yourself: A 2 hour pamper session at your choice of stunning location with Wellness in the Winelands

WATCH Le Court de Billot’s race review: 

#Women : Here's the 2022 champion @KimLeCourt talking us through the #CTCycleTour . pic.twitter.com/xTLwIbgQ18 — Cape Town Cycle Tour (@CTCycleTour) March 13, 2022

Congratulations to all of the amazing athletes who finished, and are yet to finish, the 2022 Cape Town Cycle Tour. What an achievement!

Treat yourself: Head to toe massage experience for 2 from Relax Spa @ Protea Hotel by Marriott Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge

Update: Kulula and British Airways aim to resume flights from 12pm

Picture: Chris Hitchcock / Cape Town Cycle Tour / Instagram

Article written by Robyn Simpson

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Cape Town Cycle Tour 2023: Everything You Need To Know

The biggest timed bike race in the world is back for another fantastic showing, but this time, there’s something extra to look forward to. Cyclists, cycling fans, and family and friends of the riders have all been eagerly awaiting the 2023 edition of the Cape Town Cycle Tour, and it’s finally arrived! 

The 45th race promises to be better than ever because the organisers have added an extra race to the schedule. Keep reading to learn more about this exciting addition and any other information you need to stay in the loop about the Cape Town Cycle Tour. Remember to book a cleaning service with South Africa’s #1 home services company around that time instead of having to worry about chores before or after the big race. 

First Time Hearing About The Cycle Tour? 

If you’ve never attended, or even heard of this prestigious event, here’s a quick breakdown. Formerly known as the ‘Cape Argus’, the well-known race was renamed the ‘Cape Town Cycle Tour’ in 2014. Going back to the very beginning, 1977 was the year of inception when it was first thought up. Although, at that time it wasn’t a race, but rather a way to bring attention to the need for cycling paths for Cape Town’s many cyclists.

Bill Mylrea and John Stegmann are the two brilliant minds that came together to set in motion what would one day become one of South Africa’s favourite cycling races. Over 500 cyclists took to the roads in 1978 to compete in ‘The Big Ride In.’ Fast-forward 45 years later, and the Cape Town Cycle Tour is now a name that echoes throughout the streets of Cape Town and the rest of the country with much pride and excitement. Strap yourselves in and get ready for the latest installment of this epic race, taking place on Sunday, 12 March 2023.

Giving Back 

While the action-packed racing and results are the main topics of discussion on the day, the Cycle Tour is about more than the road to the finish line. Thanks to the Pedal Power Association and the Rotary Club of Claremont, almost R50 000 000 has been given back to the Mother City in the last 5 years alone! This money is used to improve lives and living conditions for so many who need it, all across the Cape Peninsula. 

Riders are encouraged to join charity groups or start their own charitable drives to further help the cause and change lives on a daily basis.

Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo

Health and fitness are some of the core pillars of the Cycle Tour, and that’s what the expo aims to encourage. Every year competitors make their way to the expo to register, as it is the only registration venue for the race, but they stay longer than needed to browse through the many exhibitors’ stands offering great products and services. 

Family, friends, and the general public from all over are invited to join in on the fun at the expo and soak up the information provided about various health, financial, and communications products. Click here to get more information on the expo. 

Race Routes

As mentioned above, the organisers of the Cycle Tour are proud to be adding an extra race to the schedule. This is being done in the hopes of encouraging younger and newer cyclists to experience the thrill of racing around one of the most beautiful cities in the world, before plunging into the longer route. Click on the links below for respective race routes:

• 42km Race Route
• 109km Race Route

Road Closures

Due to the nature of the event, road closures will be taking place all around Cape Town on Saturday, the 12th, and Sunday, the 13th of March. If you plan on being on the roads that weekend, click here for a full downloadable list of road closures to help you on your way. 

Conclusion  

If you aren’t much of a cyclist, there are many other ways to spend your time outside in the beautiful city of Cape Town. Although the days of summer are coming to an end, the autumn weather is still inviting enough to try these outdoor workouts . If you are participating in the Cape Town Cycle Tour, good luck and stay safe! We believe in you just as much as we believe in the excellent SweepStars providing unmatched cleaning services in record time.

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Cape Argus Pick n Pay Momentum Cycle Tour officially renamed the Cape Town Cycle Tour

The Cape Argus Pick n Pay Momentum Cycle Tour was officially renamed the Cape Town Cycle Tour at a launch event held in downtown Cape Town this evening.

In recognition of the tour’s global status and international appeal, its organisers and owners – the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust (CTCTT) – in association with the three co-naming rights sponsors, Cape Argus, Pick n Pay and Momentum, introduced the name change and logo in celebration of the event’s iconic status and increasing global appeal.

Speaking at the event, Steve Hayward, Chairman of the CTCTT, took guests through the history of the tour saying: “The Cape Town Cycle Tour is Africa’s premier cycling event. It has grown from humble beginnings, attracting only a few hundred cyclists who participated in the first tour as a protest ride, to the worlds’ largest timed cycle race. The event has enjoyed a remarkable journey over the past 37 years, and the new name and logo revealed tonight is testament to our coming of age as we move into the next phase to becoming one of the worlds’ most desirable participation sporting events.”

From modest beginnings to iconic stature

Bill Mylrea and John Stegmann, two men who formed part of a group of people with a dream of a cycling South Africa, are credited with being the visionaries behind the first Cycle Tour. The inaugural event took place in 1978 and inspired the idea for a longer ride around the peninsula. Only 525 riders participated in the first race. Today, 35,000 local and international cyclists are drawn to the Mother City on the second Sunday in March each year to tackle the spectacular 109km route.

The event has been affectionately known as “The Argus” since its inception. Jermaine Craig, Editor of the Cape Argus newspaper which has sponsored the event since that first year, says: “When the Cape Argus was approached to use our name for the first ride, it spoke strongly to our paper’s civic activist roots. In our paper this year we reported that in Cape Town alone 300km of cycling lanes had been completed or were nearing completion, so the cycling ‘activists’ can certainly say it’s been a case of mission accomplished.

“From the start we have supported the race in its different guises and evolutions. We are proud to again pledge our support to the ‘Cape Town Cycle Tour’ and we remain passionate partners of this exciting event.”

Pick n Pay has been a key co-naming rights sponsor of the Cycle Tour for over two decades. “Pick n Pay, along with the Cape Argus, has enjoyed a long-standing partnership with the Cycle Tour. Together with the City of Cape Town and Momentum, we are now moving into a new partnership phase,” says Malcolm Mycroft, General Manager of Marketing at Pick n Pay. “We have always been incredibly proud to be part of this iconic international event, which not only promotes a healthy lifestyle, but also raises funds for many local charities.”

Earlier this year, Momentum acknowledged the upward trajectory of the Cycle Tour when it joined Cape Argus and Pick n Pay as a co-naming rights sponsor. Commenting on the new direction of the Cycle Tour, Danie van den Bergh, Head of Brand Momentum, says: “As the newest sponsor in the Cycle Tour family we could not be happier to be on board and part of the development of this iconic event. We were fortunate that all partners shared the vision to renew and rejuvenate the race as it moves forward into a new and exciting phase. The tour’s charitable component is important to us because we want to further fulfil our role as a good corporate citizen, and offer our clients a superior experience with every interaction with us. We are proud to share the passion of Momentum’s involvement, the beauty of Cape Town and the bounty of a South African welcome, with everyone.”

The start of a brand new cycle

The new brand incorporates traditional aspects that have always been associated with the event: iconic Table Mountain – the universal symbol for Cape Town – and a cyclist pedalling the route which wraps around the peninsula.

“We wanted to uphold the event’s rich heritage, while aligning with other international tours. The new Cape Town Cycle Tour name and logo is a logical next step to achieving our ambitious goal of positioning the tour globally as an iconic bucket list event and use our growing international appeal to attract a wider audience to not only participate, but also spend time in Cape Town and South Africa.” explains David Bellairs, Marketing, Sponsorship and Communications Director of the CTCTT.

The event’s iconic link to Cape Town was highlighted by Executive Mayor, Patricia De Lille, who shared her enthusiasm on the impact this will have on the future vision of the City. “We have a vision for the City of Cape Town to become the events capital of Africa. For years, people from across the country and the world have cycled through the city and seen everything that we have to offer. We are honoured that the Cycle Tour has now been named after the City and look forward to welcoming the participants for the Cape Town Cycle Tour.”

Riding for a cause

Over the years, the Cycle Tour has generated millions of Rands for cycling development and the charitable projects supported by its two main beneficiaries, the Pedal Power Association and the Rotary Club of Claremont, who collectively make up the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust. In 2012, charity entries were introduced for the first time with some 5,000 entries offered to various charity groups. “We want participants to use the event as a platform to give back to their communities, and the interest we receive each year from charities wishing to use the event as an opportunity to fundraise for worthy causes is overwhelmingly positive,” says Bellairs.

The Cape Town Cycle Tour will take place on Sunday, 8 March 2015 and entries open on Friday, 26 September 2014 at 2pm. The event’s name and logo change will not impact on the format of the 2015 route, and cyclists and spectators can continue to enjoy the world-class experience they have come to love over the past 37 years.

For regular updates on the Cycle Tour, find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/cycletour or on Twitter @CycleTour_SA . For more information on the Cycle Tour, visit www.cycletour.co.za .

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Sep 23, 2014, 7:18 PM

Sep 23, 2014, 7:30 PM

... and we can continue to affectionately call it the Argus?[emoji6]

Sep 23, 2014, 7:33 PM

Sep 23, 2014, 7:42 PM

I wonder whats really behind this decision - I am suspicious of the spin doctoring.

Why on earth would they re-brand a race name which is internationally iconic?

You just can't say: "hey mom, I did the Cape Town in 3.01!"

Frankly, it makes me wonder as to how much of the name change is attributable to the decline of Independent Newspapers, who are busy with a massive retrenchment excercise, making more than 10% of their staff redundant in one fell swoop. One has to wonder if the Argus just can no longer shell out for the naming rights.

This might also go some way to explaining the ludicrous entry fee.

Sep 23, 2014, 7:53 PM

i don't think its the name as much as the race itself that's iconic. Changing the name wont dilute the experience one bit. Later generations wont even know what 'the argus' means anyway. They'll use whatever catchy nickname sticks between now and then. The tour, the cape tour. etc whatevs.

Harryn: if they can't afford the naming rights, then why would they still feature as one of the three big headline sponsors? I think its more a case of the city fathers muscling in on the action to push Brand Cape Town. its all there in that quote from Aunty Patricia..

    “We have a vision for the City of Cape Town to become the events capital of Africa. For years, people from across the country and the world have cycled through the city and seen everything that we have to offer. We are honoured that the Cycle Tour has now been named after the City and look forward to welcoming the participants for the Cape Town Cycle Tour.”

Sep 23, 2014, 8:08 PM

Was this the "big exciting announcement" they have been going on about?

Sep 23, 2014, 8:51 PM

No big deal, The Star became the 94.7!

Sep 23, 2014, 8:52 PM

Does this mean we won't get another pointless Momentum I-don't-fit-in-the-cage water bottle in the goodie bag? 

Or Will it actually be called The  Cape Argus Pick n Pay Momentum Cape Town Cycle Tour, because more syllables is always considered a good thing? TCAPNPMCTCT has a ring to it, especially for Google.

And are our medals valuable collectors' items now?

Sep 23, 2014, 8:56 PM

Apparently its to market it better to the international audience, pretty pointless unless they are going to increase entrants to plus 40k Or decrease the local entry to allow more foreigners to bring their currency to Cape Town, i guess we'll have to wait & see.

Sep 23, 2014, 9:12 PM

Did I the buy an entry to the wrong event?....

Sep 24, 2014, 5:07 AM

The logo looks like an alien on a bike, could have been called the Roswel cycle tour. But then it appears that aliens don't need seatposts or bars to ride either.

Sep 24, 2014, 5:24 AM

What about the 109.4 as a name at least the distance will be a constant

I like the "Cape Town Cycle Tour" better than the impossible old official name, but I'll keep on calling it the "Argus". I think the re-naming probably has something to do with the Argus suffering financially and the City of Cape Town now most likely being the biggest contributor. They are simply the most logical headline sponsor, better than any other business or company. Good that the city is willing to build its brand internationally especially in the cycling world. We have much to offer.

Sep 24, 2014, 6:40 AM

Ja I think there's more to it? Anything to do with the CSA and PPA?

Sep 24, 2014, 6:55 AM

Sep 24, 2014, 6:59 AM

Just glad all this excitement over this BIG announcement we have all been anxiously waiting for, is over.

Back to your lives and as you were!

Oh ... and before we say Whooopla ...

HOLD YOUR F@*# LINE!!!

Sep 24, 2014, 7:25 AM

Entry fee up by 19.44%

BECAUSE THEY CAN !!

Sep 24, 2014, 7:33 AM

World Fun ride Champs.

Sep 24, 2014, 7:54 AM

No, Barking up the wrong tree here.

Sep 24, 2014, 8:24 AM

I wonder whats really behind this decision - I am suspicious of the spin doctoring.   Why on earth would they re-brand a race name which is internationally iconic?   You just can't say: "hey mom, I did the Cape Town in 3.01!"   Frankly, it makes me wonder as to how much of the name change is attributable to the decline of Independent Newspapers, who are busy with a massive retrenchment excercise, making more than 10% of their staff redundant in one fell swoop. One has to wonder if the Argus just can no longer shell out for the naming rights.   This might also go some way to explaining the ludicrous entry fee.

Internationally iconic? I do wonder how many people tell their friends abroad they are going to ride the Argus rather than they are going to Cape Town?  Research indicates the latter.

The renaming eliminates the complexity of accommodating multiple sponsors and positions the Cape Town Cycle Tour factually based on where it occurs.  As Capricorn points out "Changing the name wont dilute the experience one bit. Later generations wont even know what 'the argus' means anyway." Which is perfectly true for the worldwide audience that is so important for South Africa to attract now that striking has become our major economic output.  The City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government recognise the unique opportunity that cyclo tourism offers the economy given the Cape's natural attractiveness to cyclists.

The renaming has nothing to do with the Cape Argus wanting out, it remains as a major sponsor and a newspaper very supportive of recreational cycling and the benefits of cycling to the community it serves.

Regarding the "ludicrous entry fee", this is a charitable event where ALL profits go to charity or the benefit of the broader cycling community. Is R430 or R400 if you are a PPA member really expensive for one of the best organised and fun days you can have on a bicycle, including being the world funride championships? I bet you spend more on energy supplements and post ride coffee in the weeks leading up to the event. With 40,000 entries all snapped up in days I don't think the market agrees with you.

Sep 24, 2014, 10:57 AM

Internationally iconic? I do wonder how many people tell their friends abroad they are going to ride the Argus rather than they are going to Cape Town? Research indicates the latter.   The renaming eliminates the complexity of accommodating multiple sponsors and positions the Cape Town Cycle Tour factually based on where it occurs. As Capricorn points out "Changing the name wont dilute the experience one bit. Later generations wont even know what 'the argus' means anyway." Which is perfectly true for the worldwide audience that is so important for South Africa to attract now that striking has become our major economic output. The City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government recognise the unique opportunity that cyclo tourism offers the economy given the Cape's natural attractiveness to cyclists.   The renaming has nothing to do with the Cape Argus wanting out, it remains as a major sponsor and a newspaper very supportive of recreational cycling and the benefits of cycling to the community it serves.   Regarding the "ludicrous entry fee", this is a charitable event where ALL profits go to charity or the benefit of the broader cycling community. Is R430 or R400 if you are a PPA member really expensive for one of the best organised and fun days you can have on a bicycle, including being the world funride championships? I bet you spend more on energy supplements and post ride coffee in the weeks leading up to the event. With 40,000 entries all snapped up in days I don't think the market agrees with you.

All of your points are entirely valid; I stand corrected!

Sep 24, 2014, 1:01 PM

Internationally iconic? I do wonder how many people tell their friends abroad they are going to ride the Argus rather than they are going to Cape Town? Research indicates the latter.  

All my Dublin club members knew and ask about 'the big sportive in CT', never used 'the Argus' as people would here in SA

Sep 25, 2014, 5:13 AM

Will it still be held in August. 

Sep 25, 2014, 5:23 AM

Obviously you did as the Entries only open on Friday!

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Cycle Tour Route Map

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A route map of the popular cycle race held annually in Cape Town showing refreshment stations, support and medical points along the route. The Cape Town Cycle Tour is the largest timed cycling event in the world, attracting in excess of 35 000 cyclists from around the globe each year. For additional information please see Cape Town Cycle Tour .

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Taj Luxury Suite 406

Taj Luxury Suite 406 offers accommodation in Cape Town City Bowl that is ideal for leisure or corporate guests. The hotel is ideally situated wit...

Taj Luxury Suite 405

Taj Luxury Suite 405 offers accommodation in Cape Town's City Bowl that is ideal for leisure or corporate guests. Guests have access to all of th...

Camissa House Boutique Hotel

An eclectic mix of intimate luxury and inspired design elevates the Camissa House Hotel in Cape Town to an experiential masterpiece. Framed by th...

Kylemore 309

Kylemore 309 offers accommodation in a two bedroom apartment in the V&A Waterfront Marina with stunning views and access to four communal swimmin...

Protea Star Apartment

Protea Apartment in Walmer Estate offers luxury holiday accommodation in Cape Town for eight guests. Here you can enjoy a home way from home in a...

The Taj Residence 1408

The Taj Residence 1408 is a lavish and spacious self-catering holiday apartment in Cape Town set in a secure building in the heart of the city. ...

Parergon 104

Parergon 104 offers accommodation in a luxuriously furnished apartment overlooking the yacht basin in the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. From here ...

Bougainvillea Apartment

Bougainvillea Apartment offers accommodation in Cape Town in the 'suburb with the views', Walmer Estate. Experience Cape Town from a place of lux...

Mandelas Gold Apartment

Mandelas Gold is a spacious holiday apartment in Walmer Estate that sleeps six guests. The apartment has splendid views of Table Mountain and Tab...

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The 1978 Argus Cycle Tour

15 Sep 2022 - History • Press Release

The inaugural ride started in balmy October sunshine, which soon degenerated into an early taste of the Cape summer, and a howling southeaster that played havoc with the small field. Without the big bunches we have become accustomed to, there was no shelter, and it was a long day in the saddle for all.

For the late Don Spence – one of the legends of WP cycling – it was marginally tougher, as he left a cycling shoe at home and was forced to ride with one cleated shoe and one takkie. Not as much of a handicap as it would be today, as his toe clips and straps would have held it firm, but it did mean he could only manage 9th overall, in 3:16, and 4th non-registered rider. Spence did remember a fellow rider he knew who worked at The Argus making small talk in the early stages, asking: ‘Do you think this thing will take off?’ Honest to a fault, he couldn’t remember thinking it would …

Further down the field, 14-year-old Sean Joffe (who had been dropped off by his dad, in the dark, at the Castle – times have changed) had decided to stop and wait on the stoep of the Noordhoek Café to ask for directions: he was lost. ‘Within a few minutes, along came a woman rider and pointed out where Chapman’s Peak was. From then on I was okay. To this day, I still debate with my father the merits of dropping a 14-year-old off at the station in the dark!’

There was a rudimentary water station at the entrance to Cape Point, where Peter Breytenbach remembers his first, life-altering taste of Game. ‘A drink I have used for race hydration ever since. The only spectators I remember were at the top of Suikerbossie, shouting “Go! Go! You are 11th”,’ setting the precedent for white lies and spectators that would buoy spirits for years to come, as Peter finished 53rd.

Cape Town lawyer Lawrence Whittaker reached the start line of the first Cycle Tour in the shape of his life. In the early days you could find some parking near the start, ten minutes before, whip the bike off and roll away. ‘I nearly didn’t even start, though. One of my pre-race rituals is to check that my quick-release skewers are tight, and as I did so, the rear one snapped. On the start line. Peter Haupt, from Kriel and Binneman, was standing next to me. His kombi was parked across the road – it was different in those days – so he ran across and got me a new one from his toolbox.’ And so, after a semi-relaxed build-up, the field rolled away from the Castle at 07:00, in sunny and windless conditions.

The racing group left 30 minutes after the ‘funriders’, and their 70-strong number soon caught the first stragglers before the top of Eastern Boulevard. The pace was, well, tactical – as borne out by the pedestrian non-sub-3 winning time. Lawrence made an effort on Wynberg Hill: ‘I rode it quite hard – I was always a good climber, but on that day I was so strong. Anyway, nobody could really follow me. I looked back and they were all gasping like fish, so I knew there was only really Wimpie to watch out for.’ When the wind began to pick up in the deep south of the Peninsula, it was Springbok strongman Wimpie van der Merwe who put the hammer down. Only Whittaker could follow, and the pair dropped the rest on Chapman’s Peak, riding mano a mano into the history books.

Lawrence attacked on Suikerbossie, but his 20-year-old rival clung on for dear life. On paper, Van der Merwe should have won the sprint comfortably, but Whittaker had beaten him before and would have none of it – and took the victory by half a bike length, on the Camps Bay beachfront.

Both riders would be regulars at the front of affairs in future Cycle Tours, before Whittaker would shift focus onto family, career and the administrative roles in which he changed the face of cycling in South Africa, while Van der Merwe would go on to be one of the legends of cycling in South Africa, including blitzing the any-course record with his 2:16 ride in 1993.

The women’s field was not huge in 1978. Let’s face it: the field itself, although impressive for its time, was not huge, either. Once the core group of 50–60 hotshots had sped off down Hospital Bend, there was lots of open space between the remaining 400-odd competitors, over 104km. By today’s standards, the times recorded in the first edition of the event could be seen as pretty poor, but if you look at an increasingly blustery day, as the southeaster picked up around lunch time, and the lack of big bunches to shelter in, the times are actually not so shabby.

In this light, let’s judge the inaugural winning efforts only on time. Just 59 riders managed to finish in under four hours, and 27-year-old Janice Theis finished 175th overall, with only half the field breaking the five-hour barrier. Only 15 women would finish the inaugural Argus Tour, including Julia Whittaker, who finished 7th to almost eclipse hubby Lawrence, but not quite. Theis would come back in 1979 and ride more than an hour quicker to retain her title.

Date: 28 October, 1978

Distance: 104km

Official name: The Argus Cycle Tour

Route notes: Today’s route, but via Slangkop and Kommetjie, and finishing alongside the beach in Camp’s Bay

Entries: 525

Finishers: 446

% Finishers: 85

Male winner: Lawrence Whittaker – 3:02:24

Female winner: Janice Theis – 4:35:00

Tandem winners: John Stegmann/ Richard Stegmann – 4:15:00

First non-registered: Alastair MacDonald – 3:12:13

Youngest rider: Piers O’Hanlon (8)

Oldest rider: John Clough (65)

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