Cape Argus Cycle Tour 2011 – 13 March 2011

As we do every year, we have entered for the 2011 Cape Argus Cycle Tour when entries opened in September 2010, before all the changes to the licensed bunches took place and we started racing with the Pro’s and Elites in Category 1. Argus is usually not a budgeted team race and for our own cost, so only Werner Venter and I entered. When we received our first seedings we were happy that we both were seeded VA. The race was on. But then, we got the chance of a lifetime. Due to Andrew Reeves’ results in the Cat 1 races we have done so far this year, our team was seeded under the first twelve top club teams in the country and we received an invitation to race in the Invitational bunch with the Pro’s and more of the best top class cyclists this country and some others, has to offer. Usually the Argus was part of the Giro del Capo Tour and the invitational bunch would only leave after the Giro group, but this year it was different as there was no Giro del Capo Tour. We could not let the opportunity slip out of our hands to start and race in the first batch in the biggest timed race in the world.

On Sunday morning we lined up in the start pins with all the big guns in SA Cycling present. The Mr Price KZN Vets team was represented by Bryan Cusack, Werner Venter and me. This was my third Argus and the first one where the trees were not bent at 90 degree angles next to the road. The previous two years the “Kaapse Doctor” showed us no mercy. Helen Zille gave us a good luck speech and soon afterwards they counted down for our 6h15 start.

From the word go the bunch was speeding along at a blistering pace. It was hard not to find yourself holding on near the back of the bunch most of the time, which is a dangerous place to be. Going up Edinburg drive tested the legs quite a bit. Bryan and I went over with the bunch, while Werner used the convoy to join the bunch again. We were all still there. We headed towards Muizenberg and then to the dreaded Boyes drive, another leg tester. Going down Boyes drive was fast and the dangerous “Neutral Zone” at the bottom of Boyes is definitely not a “Neutral Zone” for the front bunch and a split happened after which we had to chase hard. Bryan managed to make the cut with me but we lost Werner on the Boyes drive section. Towards Smitswinkel I heard my name, I knew it was Bryan but I did not exactly know why till later when I was looking for him in the bunch. Bryan punctured and up to that point he was riding as if he was a contender for the win.

I got over Smitswinkel with the bunch and managed to hang on through Misty Cliffs. When we reached Noordhoek I knew I had to be closer to the front as we were nearing Chapman’s peak, but I couldn’t get there. I was in a bad place. Going up Chapmans peak it was one long stretch of cyclists and the elastic shattered. Going down we got a few guys together but the guys who lasted for a chase with me were Neville Cragg, Jacques Maritz and Brandon Christians. I think Neville was wearing the RSA WEB kit and he was as strong as an ox taking long pulls on front. There was a bunch just ahead of us and we nearly caught them going up Suikerbossie, but we did not. We went passed Egon Campbell from Matlosana heading towards the finish at Greenpoint. The three guys in my group upped the pace but my legs were shot and I could not hang on. I went over the finish line on my own in a time of 2h38.21, 6min11sec behind Tyler Day (Bonitas) who won the race. Bryan finished in 2h55.52 and Werner in 2h59.00.

This year’s cycling tour also saw the closing of an era as a local cycling hero, Malcolm Lange (Finished 2nd) from team Bonitas retired.

Huge thanks to Corinne Du Sart and Michelle Mathews for giving up their morning to be our team managers and drive the backup vehicle during the race.

Emile Fouche

MIDMAR-NOTTS RYAN MAULIN - 27 February 2011

Sunday morning saw the complete Mr Price vets team make the trip to Midmar Dam for the increasingly popular Midmar-Notts race. It was our first race of the season as an entire team with every rider present, and everyone seemed to be in reasonable to good form.
There has been a lot of concern recently with regards to the safety of cyclists and this was foremost on the organizers minds. The route, being an alternative route to the main Johannesburg/Durban freeway can become quite congested. A brief discussion was held before the event and the cyclists were given strict safety instructions. A minutes silence was then held for recent cycling fatalities. After this the last few formalities were taken care of and then the all-clear was given for racing.

The tandems departed, and ten minutes later we were sent on our way. Immediately Andrew Reeves (Mr Price) went on the attack. He opened up a 200m gap to the bunch and was riding a nice tempo. The bunch was fairly non-responsive at this time, and we just rolled along at a reasonable pace. As we hit the start of the hills proper (adjacent to the coffee-shop) the pace went up. Andrew was pulled back into the group, and the pace stayed high.

We reached Happy Hill (not a place of happiness for everyone) and the pace went up again. The first major split happened quickly, with a large group of riders going out the back door. The pace stayed high all the way to Nottingham Road with few lulls. A few attacks followed and then one big push from Emile Fouche (Mr Price). With such a large group they were all pulled back quickly though.

As we turned out of Nottingham Road and hit the first of three hills before the turnaround the pace went up again. Emile Fouche (Mr Price) was at the front setting the pace. Another bunch of riders found the going too tough, and the group was whittled down further. The second hill was taken at a similar pace, but then the pace increased again on the final hill. Werner Venter (Mr Price) was pulling near the front and looked to be in good form. I rolled through towards the front with Werner to position myself for a front row seat on the turnaround. More riders saw the back door here, and then the rush for the turnaround was on.

The halfway point saw everybody turned around safely, but as is customary the group had surged at the turnaround and were now going full-tilt back to Midmar. The pace was extremely high and being driven from the front. The pace settled a bit after we passed Nottingham Road, and then just after Granny Mouse’s we had the first big attack of the day. Deno Van Heerden (Fego café) and Clint Olsen (Cyclelab PMB) tried to make a break for it, but after some good teamwork at the front they were soon pulled back.

Mike Viljoen went on a solo effort soon afterwards, but unfortunately the depth and strength of the group saw him caught as well. We were now within 5km of the finish line and everyone seemed to be preparing for the inevitable sprint. During this lull, about 3km out, a Cyclelab rider (Mike Adey) managed to slip off the front. Emile Fouche rolled up to me and asked me if it was our rider who was away. In the mass of red kit it was hard to tell, and only after reviewing helmets did we realize that it was a Cyclelab rider. The pace was still high and we were bearing down on him quickly. As it turned out it wasn’t quick enough.


Coming through for the sprint Mike Viljoen was lead-out man for Andrew Reeves who went on to take 1st place in the 30-39 cat, with Sean Merredew taking a deserved 3rd place in the 30-39 cat also.

This was the fourth weekend in a row on the podium for the team.


Afterwards it was back to the hospitality of Corinne and Kelvin at the Mr Price tent where everyone got stuck into post-race snacks before being treated to dinner with the Mr Price club members and their families.

A well organized event, in great weather, with 2 podium places, and lunch with friends and family afterwards …………..……. Good times !!






Bryan Cusack