Words and photos by Epic Rider Michael Pryde

In 1978, Bill Mylrea and John Stegmann organised the “Big Ride-In” to draw attention to the need for cycle paths in South Africa. The Ride-In drew hundreds of cyclists, including the Mayor of Cape Town at the time. The ride was first won by Lawrence Whittaker in September 1978. This race was originally planned to run over 140 km, including a leg to Cape Point, but was reduced to a 104 km route when permission to enter the then Cape Point Nature Reserve was refused.


From its humble beginnings, The “Pick n Pay” Cape Argus race is now a major date on any discerning cyclist's diary. The event was given royal treatment in 2010 when Lance Armstrong lined up with other Elite riders in support of fellow Radio Shack rider Daryl Impey who despite being protected by Armstrong finished 2nd to local rider Malcolm Lange in a time of 2 hrs 39 mns with the seven time Tour winner coming 9th just 6 seconds adrift.

Arriving a couple of days before the race I was able to enjoy the fantastic weather in Cape Town and do a couple of local rides to check out the course and also prime the legs for the 110km loop around the Cape on race day. On day 1, a group of friends and I headed from Hout Bay where we were staying and reconnoitered the key climbs up Chapman's Peak and Suikerbossie as well as the most southern part of the course near Simon’s Town.
On day 2 we drove out to Gordon's Bay and did short but challenging ride to Pringle Bay and back which included a 27km rider straight into the wind en route back to Gordon's Bay. Knowing that tomorrow would be a rest day I decided to go full gas into the wind on the way back in order to test my legs out and was pretty pleased with the power I had, despite the near hurricane conditions pushing me left and right and mainly backwards.



Having recently competed in the 2010 Hamburg Cyclassics with 25,000 other cyclists I was confident that if I was able to get into a good starting block I had a good shot at achieving a sub 3 hour time, which I am told is a very respectable time for a first attempt. As an overseas rider I would normally have been placed in BB block, starting with other more recreational cyclists. Thankfully, having completed some recent races with good results the organizers put me in block VB amongst other Racing Vets.
The organizers of this event have over the years made this event into a well oiled machine with race packs (race numbers and race chip) handed out days before at the event Expo and starting blocks clearly partitioned and easily identifiable on race day. However the logistics of getting to and from the race can be quite tricky since many of the roads on the course and around the start/finish areas were closed before dawn. Anticipating a long day in the saddle by the predominantly recreational field we decided to park our van near the finish by the Green Point Stadium and cruise down to the start at Hertzog Boulevard.


Lining up at dawn at the back of VB group the anticipation and eagerness to start can be felt throughout the field and the MC at the start was driving up the excitement with a count down for each block. VB started at 6:28, just shortly after the pros. The gentle roll out from the city centre quickly gathered pace and soon we were riding along a gentle climb along the highway in a group of around 200 riders. Having not ridden the eastern side of the course in advance sitting in and letting the locals take control seemed like a reasonable strategy and soon I was being pulled along 40+ km/hr.
The course is a clockwise loop heading south towards Cape Point and then back along the Eastern coastline. The VB group worked well together but were caught by the A group at around the 70km mark and the pace quickly lifted to the A group paceline. The crowds that lined the streets at all the major towns turned the race into a carnival with groups coming out in various amusing costumes to cheer on all the riders and try and spot the local heroes.

It was quite difficult to imagine that this was actually a race as the atmosphere amongst the riders and the spectators was amazing but the real racing was yet to come. At 80km the race entered the most critical part- Chapman’s Peak. With riders jostling for a position near the front, the stronger riders revealed themselves amongst the 300+ riders in the group and quickly put the hammer down on the 1.7km/4.8% climb and group became strung out immediately.


Following the pace the best I can, I was able to work with a small group to reach the top of Chapman’s peak and descend down to Hout Bay and start the Suikerbossie climb knowing that the finish line was near. Having conserved some energy throughout the race, the group started to really push the pace and try for a sub 3 hour time and I found myself sitting on the front pushing the paceline and was actually able and to my surprise ride off the front of the group and come in on my own.

My official result was 02:55:47, Overall Position 620/28676, Age Group Position 93/3245 and I am already thinking about 2012.
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