Argus-watching in the Deep South

This year's Argus cycle tour in Cape Town was another roaring success with 35000 riders from around the world on the 109 km course. The winner clocked 160 minutes, giving an average speed of over 40km/hour. This is the world's largest individually-timed cycle race and, as with all such large occasions, offers a delightful mix of deadly-serious professionals and out-for-a-fun-day amateurs. One fellow hared past on an elliptical stairmaster on wheels. A group of tandems tore through with an ominous whoosh. Here in the Deep South, Simon's Town is the perfect vantage point for observers, as the road slopes gently into the village and riders take a bit of a breather or even stop at the large watering point on Jubilee Square. A lone bagpiper on the balcony of the British Hotel serenaded the pedallers through. Once the last of the stragglers had gone I jumped on my mountain bike and followed in the wake of the tour. Just beyond Miller's Point I stumbled across another large watering station, feverishly packing up after a long day and festooned with Coke flags flapping frantically in the breeze. It was a reminder of the huge logistical effort underpinning the event. This was the first cycling event outside Europe to be included in Switzerland's International Cycling Union's Golden Bike Series. The QSL is from Swiss Radio in Beromunster heard on AM in Kent in 2000.