Cycle Tour brought a lump to my throat

THE SPIRIT and camaraderie of the Cape Town Cycle Tour is palpable and Sunday’s event was no different. The event is punctuated with riders helping each other with bike malfunctions, punctures and even sorting out cramp.

As the last of the riders crossed the finishing line in the late afternoon, the support from those lining the streets was as enthusiastic as when the first cyclists set off earlier in the morning.

It is these late finishers, the effort of completing the 109km route etched on their faces, that represent the true triumph of this event.

We are proud to be a co-sponsor of the Cape Town Cycle Tour and we are already counting down the days to the 40th anniversary next year.

See you at the starting line. AS A VISITOR to Cape Town from Scotland, may I congratulate your city and its people on the Cycle Tour that I have just participated in. It has become an annual celebration of cycling culture on open roads in breathtaking scenery, and a carnival of camaraderie uniting the racial patchwork of Cape communities, of which you can be justly proud.

The enthusiasm of spectators and volunteers is a constant adrenalin buzz, and after the challenge of Suikerbossie the spectacle of the Twelve Apostles on the final leg is like a standing ovation.

On a personal note, this year’s event was literally a milestone in my recovery from aggressive cancers that required chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. I trailed in wearily at the tail end of the field to find crowds still lining at the finish line, and cheering us home.

I am not ashamed to admit they brought a lump to my throat. Bravo, Cape Town!