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DREAMS TO REALITY
The World’s Greatest Cycle Tour route The magnitude of the Cycle Tour is staggering - spectators, security forces, media, sponsors and staff following thousands of entrants riding bicycles across Cape Town!
The Route The Cycle Tour covers 109km of some of the most scenic spots in the world; it is also a day when Cape Town grinds to a proverbial halt. If you’re not a competitor, you’re out on the course, cheering and supporting the different groups. A proficient workforce of over 2,500 dedicated people, representing a variety of organisations, ensures that all operations run smoothly and efficiently on the day.
And they’re off! The official start-line is on Hertzog Boulevard, which is to the east side of Cape Town City centre, under the watchful gaze of Table Mountain. The start area requires a full square kilometre of space that runs all the way up to Heerengracht Street. This expanse of space allows for the orderly organisation and departure of the various seeding groups, race
Left: Cape Town and the Western Cape is recognised as one of the most beautiful places on earth. It’s not difficult to see why
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control centre, media centre including TV, timing equipment, first aid, repair workshops, personal effects safe-keeping and portable toilets. Thousands of competitors, dignitaries and spectators are treated to the cry of the ‘Hoop-Lah’ that has been immortalized by the long-serving official starter Paul de Groote. The report of the starter’s pistol coincides with hundreds of cyclist’s feet clipping into their pedals as they saddle-up for what can best be described as the ride of their life. At 06h15 the highly coveted first departure slots, consisting of elite cyclists, race off into the new day. For the next four hours the different seeded groups follow them at five-minute intervals in almost military precision. This is meticulously timed, alternating between both sides of the wide dualcarriage way boulevard. Each group of cyclist’s exits the pens upon the traditional ‘Hoop-Lah’ directive. Cyclists pass underneath the home of
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Right: Table Mountain, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, watches over the start of the Cycle Tour
Left: Um explacietur susa sae. Sendel ipsanis et magnimillum sit lam,Evendipisit aborpor empores solorenda
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the Cape Town City Council as they get on their way, whilst enjoying the throngs of well-wishers.
From the shadow of Table Mountain to the Atlantic Ocean
Left: The City recedes into the distance, as cyclists breeze along the N2. The slopes of Table Mountain are visible on the left
After half of a kilometre on ‘easy street’ the riders are confronted with a steady climb for three kilometres as the huge peloton makes its colourful way along Eastern Boulevard. The majestic view of one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Table Mountain, may be lost on the anxious cyclists as they check the palm fronds dancing in the wind. The fronds motion is an early natural indicator of the strength of the wind. If a gale force wind is imminent it’s a certainty that some serious pedal power is going to be called for. This means that riders who have not taken their training seriously might be in for a rough ride. The taunting South Easter can make the going
even more difficult. At the pinnacle of Eastern Boulevard a high speed and thrilling descent around Hospital Bend makes for some great riding. It’s the first descent of the Cycle Tour. Groups are still tightly bunched, so accidents here can have serious consequences, with as many as 50 bicycles crashing on one occasion. A fleet of emergency vehicles are on standby and a team of dedicated doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, first aiders and disaster management volunteers are at the Mediclinic Medical Village to deal with any injuries. The Cycle Tour then alters direction and turns right along the M3 on a glorious tarmac ribbon snaking along the mountain-backed Rhodes Estate, past the University of Cape Town and Newlands Forest before making the turn into Paradise Road to the foot of Edinburgh Drive. The two kilometre climb up Wynberg Hill come alive thanks to the hundreds of cheering spectators who want to The world’s greatest Cycle Tour
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get up close and personal before the continuous pelotons spreads out. Sixteen well organised refreshment stations and six medical points are carefully positioned along the route. The uphill climb gives way to a descent onto the freeway and into the Blue Route. Riders pick up speed over the next 10 kilometres along Simon van der Stel that culminates in an immediate right turn onto Main Road as they make their way towards Muizenberg.
Towards False Bay and Great White shark territory Well-wishers continue their homage of the World’s Greatest Cycle Tour along this gateway to some of the most beautiful parts of Cape Town. Hugging False Bay as they go cyclist’s head for the historical naval town of Simonstown; they are greeted first by the breakers of Muizenberg beach and at 25 kilometres into the race they
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Right: False Bay, home to St James and its colourful beach houses and tidal pool, en route to the home of the Jackass African penguins of Boulder’s Beach Far right: Atlantic breakers and a cool breeze welcome riders as they power towards Simon’s Town
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begin to tackle the scenic, winding coast road, with only the railway line between them and one of the world’s largest breeding grounds for the Great White Shark. The view from the bay to Hangklip takes their much-needed breath away: however, experienced riders know that the many unpredictable road cambers and surfaces can easily catch out the unwary. The row of colourful beach changing sheds are a landmark signifying that three quarters of the route is yet to be completed. At the 28- kilometre mark, cyclists might be tempted to make a pit stop for refreshments in the picturesque village and harbour area of Kalk Bay. The cyclists then pass through Clovelly, Fish Hoek, Sunny Cove and Glencairn, with their flag waving, whistling and clapping residents lining the streets to cheer them on. One third of the Cycle Tour has been completed when the riders breeze into empire-
Left: One of the most popular destinations along the False Bay seaboard, Kalk Bay’s antique stores, coffee shops, galleries, secondhand bookstores and restaurants flash by
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old Simonstown. The sense of relief at the sight of the refreshment station on Jubilee Square is palpable. Easing out of Simonstown the cyclists ride past the Naval dockyard, which was handed over by Britain to South Africa in 1957. The African Penguins patrolling Boulders Beach pass by unnoticed on the way to the improbably named Rumbly Bay. What follows is universally viewed as one of the toughest slogs of the Cycle Tour. The Cape of Good Hope section of Table Mountain National Park is home to the five-kilometre stretch known as Smitswinkel. Watch out for the occasional Bontebok or Eland as you contemplate the seemingly relentless stretch of incline.
Smitswinkel, Chacma baboons and Klass Jagersberg Calm days are rare in this region at this time of the year and the cyclists are usually greeted
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Right: Riders follow one of the most scenic train routes in the world, along the coast to the most southerly train station in Africa
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Left: The name Smitswinkel (‘the blacksmith’s shop’) was given to this pretty little bay because of two rocks that jut out of the sea which resemble an anvil and a bellows. Here, cyclists have braved the numerous baboons and turn inland
by a stern South-Easter ceaselessly blowing in from that famous promontory on the southeast corner of the Cape Peninsula, Cape Point. Chacma baboons may make for odd spectators, but they come out in force to add real, live, moving and possibly somewhat endearing obstacles for the cyclist as they forage for food with their young. It gets tougher as the cyclists start the ascent to Partridge Point, a celebrated dive site and Marine Protected Area. Whilst there are beautiful views of the practically inaccessible beach cottages of Smitswinkel Bay, these sights are often missed by the competitors as they focus on each corner of the climb before reaching the huge cedar tree that marks the summit near the Cape Points entrance to the Table Mountain National Park. The next eight kilometre stretch is a great opportunity to ease off, take a bit of a breather and do some freewheeling. However, this area is not quite as
scenic as before and besides the intrusion of the curious ostriches at the 65 ha Cape Point Ostrich Farm, this is generally a featureless stretch. There is still half of the race to go and unfortunately there will be no crowds to cheer you along through this stage.
Camel shaped rocks and the incomparable ‘Chappies’ At around the 55 kilometre mark, riders have a welcome reprieve from the bland landscape of the last few kilometres following a left turn to Scarborough Conservation Village. A large carved elephant at the sculpture garden marks this point in the Cycle Tour. The subsequent downhill is often tackled with a little too much revelry and the descent appears deceptively easy but has claimed many casualties through the years. Scarborough is almost completely isolated by road closures for the Cycle Tour, but The world’s greatest Cycle Tour
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the residents cheerfully picnic on the verges to encourage everyone on past Camel Rock, their celebrated landmark. Next up is Misty Cliffs, providing yet another rewarding section of the Cycle Tour. Riders are often treated to the sight of Grey Herons, Cape Cormorants, African Fish Eagles and many more bird species, not to mention the comically named Cape Legless Skink. This section of the route comprises a few kilometres of gentle downhill cycling tantalisingly close to the ocean. This can be a revitalising experience for the slower cyclists as they have a chance to enjoy the views before they steel themselves for the ride up the hill to Sweetwater. The race turns briefly inland again onto Slangkop Road. At the 67-kilometre mark the full extent of the challenges ahead are punctuated when both Chapman’s Peak and Suikerbossie come plainly into view. Thankfully the enthusiastic support for
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Right: Cool mist billows in from the Atlantic Ocean
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Left: Cyclists wind their way between Noordhoek and Hout Bay on Chapman’s Peak Drive.
the race is always on hand from the communities of Ocean View and Masiphumele. The cyclist’s reach the left turn into Ou Kaapse Weg at Sun Valley and it is here that two thirds of the race has been completed. Again the Cycle Tour changes course, turns left again and heads for the Dutch-named Noordhoek, meaning ‘North Corner’. This stretch offers a shady respite before the mighty Chapman’s Peak, named after John Chapman, Captain of the English ship The Consent. Klein (little) Chappies often fools novice riders into thinking that they have conquered the infamous Chapman’s Peak itself, with its breathtaking views south along Long Beach. But the cruel reality is that Chappies is yet to come. Since 1914 Kommetjie Lighthouse has been burning brightly and for the first 22 years of the cycle tours’ existence the peloton snaked past this prominent landmark before the town was cut from the route. The two-kilometre The world’s greatest Cycle Tour
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climb up Chappies is the most well- known section of the Cycle Tour. The expensively engineered catch fences above the riders are intended to trap any falling rocks. One of the greatest rewards for riders is to reach the top of Chapman’s Peak and to view the incredible Sentinel nestled above Hout Bay. Mountains to the North, East and West surround this once quaint fishing village. This rocky coastal roadway offers magnificent views on each of its 114 spectacular curves above seaside cliff faces. This mountain pass, linking Noordhoek to Hout Bay, was built between 1915 and 1922 and was an engineering triumph. Recreational riders may enjoy the stunning view but the elite racers barely give it a glance as they tackle the winding five-kilometre downhill descent through the controversial toll booths. Sweeping past the bronze statue of a leopard on a rock erected in 1963 in memory of the last leopard
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Right: This 9km section skirts the rocky coastline of the southerly extension of Constantiaberg, known affectionately as ‘Chappies’
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sighted in the area in 1930, the riders now face the dreaded Suikerbossie.
Cruising homeward bound
Left: The refreshment point at Chapman’s Peak Drive is amongst of the most appreciated of the Cycle Tour
The final stretch of 15 kilometres is undemanding but visually rewarding. The last but sometimes brutal part of the race is the short steep incline of Suikerbossie. Local residents take great delight in spraying overheated riders with their hosepipes. Just 14-kilometres to go out of the 109-kilometre race, the long downhill from Suikerbossie offers up magnificent views of the Atlantic Seaboard. The Twelve Apostle, Camps Bay and Signal Hill and famous Robben Island all tumble into view. The route continues past cocktail-drinking guests at the Twelve Apostles hotel and winds through Bakoven. Beachgoers and tourists cheer cyclists on through Camps Bay. The Bay Hotel, with its distinctive Rotunda building, previously marked the finish line The world’s greatest Cycle Tour
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in the first 12 Cycle Tours and is followed by a short uphill trudge to Maidens Cove. This was to be the scene where the next ten Cycle Tours finish line was and where the carnival used to be held. The Cycle Tour continues above the ultra fashionable beaches of Clifton and through the streets of Bantry Bay. The route takes the riders through the busy and wellkept Sea Point sea front.
The finish line. Glory, medals and refreshments The downhill to the finish in Green Point provides a welcome breather for the cyclist who might be showing signs of fatigue at this stage. Plenty of time then to ponder the magnificent 68,000-seater world class Cape Town Stadium. After 109 kilometres of gruelling, yet exciting riding, the Cycle Tour ends with organised precision on Western Boulevard in Greenpoint,
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Right: Sea Point’s promenade runs the length of Sea Point’s beachfront, from Bantry Bay to Mouille Point and is a hub of activity during the Cycle Tour
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Left: Green Point, nestles between Table Bay, Signal Hill, Sea Point, the V&A Waterfront and the city centre to create a fitting finale for Cycle Tour competitors
adjacent to the new Cape Town Stadium. The competitors for line honours speed through the narrow channel while others sprint to achieve a personal best time. However, most riders conclude the tour at a gentle pace with a sense of relief, achievement and a need for some refreshment. The large logistical organisation at the start is repeated at the finish, with timing systems, medal distribution, refreshments and first-aid all available immediately. The giant bike park and carnival are provided for the celebrating cyclists, supporters and sponsors. The world’s greatest Cycle Tour
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