Cape Argus Pick and Pay Road Race

The Argus has been a big event on my calendar the last three years now, you can’t help but get caught up in the whole atmosphere in what is dubbed South African’s World Champs.  Your not a real cyclist until you have done the Argus and the question that always follows ‘have you done it?’ is ‘what was your time?’ As a racing cyclist this one is always a funny one, I don’t think I have ever done a bike race and stopped my watch as I cross the line.

This year though my whole focus since January has been the Cape Epic and training for an 8 day race of distances over 100km has left me with my ‘base’ legs.  Despite mixing the long rides off road with intervals the speed on the road has been a bit of an issue, especially up climbs, and I wasn’t even sure I would finish this Argus in a contending group.

Race day started early and as we drove to the start I noticed the temperature already 22 degrees, at 5am this was a little concerning and I was thankful for the 6.30 kick off.  The excitement at the start gets me every time, hundreds of cyclists milling around in the dark, dance music blasting out and, to add to it, seeing my parents and friends there after nearly two months away from home. 

Once we got going the group was pretty edgy and I stayed near the front out of trouble.  The climbs were rode at tempo so no real accelerations until round mid way where you turn back in land.  Over the top I was just off the front group and we chased back on.  Once the pace eased at the front so more riders tagged back on and so started the fight to stay near the front again.  It was the same up Chapman’s Peak and the final climb up Suikerbossie during which I was so thankful for some electrolyte from Annriette as my calves and quads were threatening to cramp.

Towards the finish I never left the top 10, keeping a close eye on Ashleigh when she was in front but also just watching the guys as a few were trying to escape early and I thought how nice it would be to get away and ‘solo’ into a victory!  However that wasn’t to be and instead there was a stampede to the line.  I stayed right, in the wind but not boxed in as the group was too twitchy.  About 300m to go I saw Ashleigh go off to my left so I went too.  Not on anyone’s wheel I had no one to hide behind and expected a herd of riders to come past.  Instead I heard a big crash so just kept going and came over the line 2^nd woman with Ashleigh taking the win and Lynette Burger taking 3^rd.

One by one the injured riders came through the finish which is always a terrible sight.  Out of the Bizhub girls Marissa broke a finger and Annriette looked like she’s been tattooed with chain rings.  There were a few nasty accidents in the Toyota team and I heard a few guys had broken collarbones.  I guess that’s the danger in road cycling and I hope everyone recovers 100%. 

After the disappointment at the Nationals for Bizhub-FCF I was pleased to get our kit on the podium.  Two second places in both the Road and MTB Argus’ in two weeks and two matching bottles of bubbly that were easily polished off a few days after on my 30^th Birthday.  

Cape Argus Pick and Pay Mountain Bike race

It was hard enough getting up at 5am in Stellenbosh after 6 hours sleep and after a road race up in Nelspruit 24 hours earlier without the sound of rain splattering on the roof and eating another force fed bowl if muesli, Leana and myself both wondered if the race was even going to go ahead. 

Heading down there Leana’s tyre burped off the rim and we were left standing in the dark in a puddle of sealant wondering what to do.  Plan quickly in place I rode on in the dark without a clue where I was heading and Leana headed back home to drive down and see if Conrad could work some miracle without a compression pump.  Luckily Nicci saved the day lending her her wheel while I followed a trail of cars down the road and by 7am we were on the start line, the sun now up and the rain over with.

With a descent start I found myself at the back of a small group including Arien.  With the hard efforts the day before I didn’t seem to mind the quick pace and the only thing I struggled with were the constant sprints out of each loose corner. Arien was clearly tired from The Grape Escape even though she was still pulling hard at the front of the group while I hung on at the back, pleased to be on a 29er which seems much faster on the flat tracks.  I did edge ahead on a couple of climbs but then lost contact when I dropped my chain so chased hard again to get back.  Later on the words of advice I have heard so often about ending up where you look were clearly practiced as I focused unintentionally on a large rock on a climb and rode straight into it.  The one thing I do find hard with the bigger wheels is controlling where they go!!  From then we turned into some technical single track with a few rutted sections and damp roots and I never saw Arien again.  Still feeling strong and now with a 2^nd caffeine jel kicking in I started to catch some guys in front only to lose the chain again and stop to put it back before I snapped it.  The course then flattened out and with a few river crossing, sandy sections and rocky tracks there was plenty to focus on and having just sucked another jel packet dry I was surprised to hear the commentator and see the finish line ahead. 

Coming in 2^nd to a World class athlete was good enough for me even if she was tired and I was so pleased to then see a run of Bizhub jerseys take 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th.