ARGUS CYCLE TOUR

This event is the largest of its kind in the world, I am told. More than twenty years ago my son and husband used to participate and the race was an informal affair. Not so these days as there are in the region of thirty five thousand participants.
Many roads are closed for the event and one either has to get out of Cape Town or stay at home. A neighbour invites us to a champagne breakfast. Her flat overlooks the main road and we have a good view of the steady stream of cyclists.
The race starts at 6 o'clock in the city centre and the first group of crack cyclists leave. At regular intervals new groups set off. My daughter sets off at 9:30. By this time the crack riders have completed the 109 km race.
The route hugs the coast, first along the warm Indian Ocean side, through Fish Hoek and Simon's Town, round Cape Point and along the scenic Chapman's Peak Drive high above the sea. Now along the cold Atlantic sea, up the killer hill known as Suikerbossie (sugar bush)and then bliss, down hill to the finish line.
We take cold water, coke and tuna rolls down to the refreshment stop in Simon's Town. Suzi and Lara arrive in high spirits. The festive air and jolly music is infectious. We share the water with other cyclists. Suzi keeps us up to date on face book till they complete the race. Her last post reads...
"Lovely to have done a pilgrimage around our beautiful, albeit windswept peninsula, and enjoyed not feeling like potential road kill for a change. The Taquanta Group raised R100,000 for 'Sporting Chance'. Not too shabby."
And I would agree. Much money has been raised by individuals and groups for those in need.