Race Report - Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour

Report by Sipho Mona, Team Manager: Team GT/Velokhaya/PPA.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

The 33rd version of the Argus Tour started from the CBD of Cape Town with a field of over 38 000 cyclist ready to tackle the 109km scenic route. The real focus of the day was on the invitation group which boasted all the teams that rode the Giro del Capo. There was one rider in particular who every rider wanted to rub shoulders and race with which was non other than Lance Armstrong.

As soon as the race started all our riders focus was on the actual race and it was not long after the start that one of our riders went off the front but came back due to the strong gale force winds. A few riders tried to make a break for it but the pack was having none of that and brought every move back before it gained momentum. When the pack reached the climb of Boyes Drive, Songezo tried to force a break but was given no chance as he was immediately brought back.
The group then went past Simons Town towards Smitswinkel and that's when a group of five riders went away which included Siyabonga Mnqwazi, Songezo Jim and former rider for the team Luthando Kaka. They managed to stay away for a couple of kilometres until they were caught on the foot of the climb. Things started heating up in the bunch when they reached Scaborough, the pack was doing speeds in access of 65km on the flat road, which resulted in the pack being split into four.
They then regrouped to one main bunch until they reached the corner of Soetwater where the pace was edged up a knot and saw a select split of 14 riders making a break in which unfortunately the team was not represented. Our riders were trying to catch up on the 14 man break and they on the other hand were giving it all they had to make sure that they stay away and the gap increases. When they reached Chapmans Peak the gap had grown to more than a minute and the 14 man break had become a 12man break which made it over Suikerbossie and regrettably stayed away until the finish, with our riders getting minor placing in the chasing bunch.

That was good ride from the guys as they are making it a custom in every Argus Tour to publicise the Organisation (Velokhaya) by being in the front (breaks).