Cape Town

This is Cycle Tour season – when Cape Town hosts an eleven-day cycling extravaganza, which includes the world’s largest timed cycling event. 

It’s all thrills and spills as a young girl chases down the 2007 Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Tricycle Tour leaders. Photo by Gallo Images

The week-and-a-half running up to the 31st Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour on Sunday, 9 March, is jam-packed with a variety of cycling action.

28 February – 2 March: The first official Cycle Tour Kid’s Life Expo takes place at Canal Walk Shopping Centre, with exhibitors ranging from education, nutrition, cycling, sport, fashion and kids’ lifestyle. This will be a great meeting place for families while entering their children into the Junior or Tricycle Tour, and a fantastic way to promote a healthy and active lifestyle among children.

1 March: The excitement starts on Saturday when thousands of youngsters between two and twelve will flock to Youngsfield Military Base in Ottery for the much-anticipated Cape Argus Pick n Pay Tricycle and Junior Tours (presented by Bonaqua and Spur Steak Ranches respectively).Over 2,000 children are expected to participate in the 1,5km, 5km and 10km rides.

2 March: Things will take a muddy turn when about 3,500 mountain bikers are expected to gather at Boschendal Wine Estate on Sunday. The event features four route options for the participants – ranging from a flat and easy 13km to an ultra tough 55km marathon – and lots to see and do for supporters, making this the perfect family outing.

4 March: The first stage of the MTN Giro del Capo officially kicks off in Wellington. This five-stage international stage race will take local and international professional cycling teams through the heart of the Boland and the Durbanville Winelands, before they tackle the final hill-climb up Signal Hill on Saturday, 8 March. 

Sara Muhl during the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Mountain Bike Challenge from Boschendal Wine Estate in 2007. Photo by Gallo Images

5 – 8 March: Every year, over 70,000 people flock to the Lifecycle Expo, SA’s largest cycling, health and fitness expo. This is where Cycle Tour participants finalise their registration and do some last-minute shopping before Race Day. This year also sees the launch of the Wellcare Centre, a centralised "clinic" where individuals can undergo numerous health tests, including cholesterol, blood pressure and fitness tests. Participants have the added benefit of having the test results linked to their race number, giving medical professionals up-to-date information in any Race Day emergency situation. 

9 March: Undoubtedly the highlight of Lifecycle Week, the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour takes 35,000 cyclists of all ages, shapes and sizes along 109km of the of the Cape Peninsula’s most scenic roads – a great percentage of which run through a nature reserve and world heritage site. 

But Cycle Tour is much more than a mass participation event that attracts cyclists from around the globe. All Cycle Tour proceeds go to charity, benefiting hundreds of community organisations and initiatives – from schools and children’s homes to skills and cycling development. Last year, R3-million was shared between the Pedal Power Association and The Rotary Club of Claremont.