Cape Town – Cyclists, or at least those with an aversion to hills, can breathe a collective sigh of relief as Boyes Drive will not be making a surprise return for next year’s Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour.
The brutal uphill section made way for the flatter Main Road in Muizenberg in this year’s event. In previous years the road was not available because of road works. But an agreement between the tour’s organisers and the city heralded its return.
Cyclists can look forward to tackling infamous obstacles, including the upward crawl of Suikerbossie and Chapman’s Peak’s scenic vistas.
There are only five days left before entries for the event start on Sunday.
But while the Cycle Tour is only spinning into life on March 9 next year, a host of seeding events are building up to the big day.
The Herald VW Cycle Tour, one of many seeding events, kicks off in Port Elizabeth on February 3.
The 99er Cycle Tour will see cyclists skim along the Western Cape’s roads through areas such as Malmesbury and Wellington on February 9.
The Training Wheels programme still has slots available for newbie riders. The programme prepares novices to the sport of cycling to enter, train for, and participate in their first Cycle Tour.
Participants will train under the watchful eye of career athlete Peter Huber who has completed eight international Ironman events, a range of local triathlons and has competed in most of the Western Cape’s annual rides. However, there are only 100 spots available.
*Entry to the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour costs R360 (R330 for members of the Pedal Power Association) and entries start on September 1.
*For more information visit www.cycletour.co.za
Cape Argus