Argus Cycle Race -
still about the 'rest of us'

(There's no catch, no extra charges... just a great online accommodation search tool I found.)

In the 'old days' of the Argus Cycle Race (back when competitors numbered thousands rather than tens of thousands), if you had a bike and you lived in Cape Town you did the Argus.

That's how it seemed anyway!

These days, at first glance, it seems you need to be a Cyclist to enter.

You know what I mean - aerodynamically stretched helmet, wrap around specs, full lycra kit from head to toe and some serious speed work training under your belt.

That may well be so for the first 15,000-or-so competitors. But the last xx,000?

I don't think so...

Entrants now come from much farther afield but for the most part the Argus competitors still ride for the joy of it (?!) and the great supportive spirit that turns out to spur them on all around the Peninsula.

For me it's all about this:

• the back-of-the-packers who are still just leaving the starting gates when the winners have already been sponged down and massaged after the Finish.

This is where you'll see the huge encouragement and camaraderie that shows that the Argus cycle race still has its original spirit - handwritten placards hanging from bridges, Mom and 2 kids among the few supporters left to give Dad a cheer on his way (only 102km to go, Dad!)

And that marshall still doggedly at his post even though his arms are aching after 4 hours of waving his wretched flag!

1978 - The first-ever Argus Cycle Tour was a low-key event with 525 entrants. From humble beginnings there, it grew and grew!

1989 By it's twelfth year, entries had to be "limited to 12,000" and five years later in 1994 entries passed the 20,000 mark.

The world had discovered the Argus and with South Africa's return to world sport there were now 400 entrants from outside South Africa’s borders. (By 2006 that figure had increased to more than 2,000 - quite a thing when you consider the process of flying long haul with an expensive bike!)

Along with 28 start groups and various other logistical challenges the Argus was becoming a giant road show in more ways than one.

1997 -- the Tour entrants topped 30,000 for the first time - testimony to the increased popularity of cycling.

2002 -- the weather was scorching at 42 degrees in places on the route and the Tour had to be stopped – the only time so far in its history.

2004 - yee-haa - back to Chappies! Entrants responded with glee and entries were filled within 65 hours of opening online. The joys of the information age...

2007 ... the Argus Cycle Tour rolls on...


Not into cycling? Check out the Two Oceans Marathon and Half Marathon, another great Cape Town sporting event.


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