By Ian Sadler
The Giro del Capo 2000 is to be a cycle tour of firsts.
Starting on Tuesday, the six-stage tour will, for the first time not include the Cape Argus/Pick'n Pay Cycle Tour as its last stage.
The second day of the Giro ends at the summit of the Franschhoek Pass, which is another first with its Tour de France-like finish.
Prize money for this year's Cape Argus/Pick'n Pay Giro has been doubled to R100 000 and all the wise money is on a local rider to hit the last stage at the top of Signal Hill on Saturday "wearing yellow".
"There are no super stars from overseas this year, but I still think it's going to be damn exciting," said Ryder, one of the locals in with a shout.
"There are UCI points at stake so it's going to be tough. Foreigners will be in for a surprise if they think picking up points is going to be easy."
Ryder pointed out that South African cyclists had at last started working for each other. "The guys used to go out for personal glory, but they have learnt to stick together - my team (Lotus) and the Minolta side helped Team HSBC in last month's Rapport Tour - they won the team competition."
At 28 Ryder is the "old man" of a powerful Lotus team for the Giro. Teammates Kosie Loubscher and Daniel Spence rode with Ryder in the recent Tour of Malaysia as did Nic White of HSBC and Minolta's Simon Kessler.
"Cycling in national colours overseas is probably another reason the guys, especially the youngsters, are working so well together - we've seen the Germans doing it here for years - how many times haven't they squeezed us out," said the former Boland Tour winner.
"Definitely a local can take it this year. I expect it to be really close on the last stage on Signal Hill. It'll be great for supporters."
Manager of Team Lotus Mark Strydom was masseur for the South African squad in Malaysia and agrees with Ryder.
"Our boys have all matured a lot, there's not much of that 'going it alone' these days," said Strydom.
"There are no 'Ullrichs' (former Tour de France winner Jan Ullrich) among the foreigners. They all seem to be round about the same level - ja, I'd put my money on a local."
Strydom raves about 23-year-old Kosie Loubscher, but reckons the winner will be one of HSBC's Nic White or Daniel Spence. "Kosie is the most underrated cyclist in South Africa, the people in Malaysia were raving about him - give him a year and he'll be offered an overseas contract - in fact I'd go so far to say he's a future world champion."
Strydom says Loubscher needs to work on his climbing - "he's not quite ready yet".
"Nic has gained so much experience, and is one of our strongest riders. He's the one to beat," said Strydom whose second choice is Spence.
"At the Rapport, Daniel rode away from an Olympic champion on one of the climbs. He's excellent on the hills. That will give him the edge on the second and last stages."
Last year's winner, Davey Dubbledam of the Netherlands will not be defending his title, and Andrew McLean was the last South African to win the Giro in 1997.
Starting and finishing points of the six-stage, 575km Giro del Capo.
Tuesday, March 7. Stage one start: In the car park in front of the Cape Rendezvous Protea Hotel, Brackenfell Boulevard, at 11.30am.
Finish: In Blaawberg Road, Table View, between Pentz Avenue and the West Coast Road, opposite Pick 'n Pay supermarket.
Wednesday, March 8. Stage two start: In car park area of Pick 'n Pay in Blaawberg Road near the junction of the West Coast Road, Table View, at noon.
Finish: At the summit of the Franschhoek Pass. Protocol ceremony outside the Franschhoek Town Hall, Huguenot Avenue (R45).
Thursday, March 9. Stage three start: Outside Franschhoek Town Hall, noon.
Finish: In Durbanville, at the top of the hill on the R302 leading in from Klipheuwel, 200m before the junction with Langeberg Road.
Friday, March 10. Stage four start: Durbanville where previous day's stage stopped at 7.30am.
Finish: In Marine Drive, Milnerton, aproximately 200m north of the Loxton Road junction.
Stage five start: Second stage of day. Criterium (circuit racing) in Sir Lowrey's Road opposite Good Hope Centre for an hour starting at 3pm.
Saturday, March 11. Stage six start: In Lower Kloof Road, Camps Bay, 5,5km individual hill climb time trial to the top of Signal Hill at 1pm.