Cape Town - Two Oceans Marathon
Fish Hoek - 1:50
The world's most beautiful “Two Oceans Marathon” – (56km) around the Cape Peninsula.
The Two Oceans Cycling Marathon, which is arguably the world’s most beautiful sporting event, invites local and international competitors to push their bodies to the limit.
The Route
The race starts in the city center of Cape Town. Then they travel along the M3 to Lakeside where the cyclists join Main Road that takes them through Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek.
From there on its hard going up the coastal road to Simon's Town, past the entrance to the Cape Point Nature Reserve. They then continue to Scarborough and on to Ocean View, missing the Kommetjie Hill. Then its Chapman’s Peak and up Suikerbossie: the longest climb that separated the real cyclists from the by now stragglers. Then it’s along the coast towards Green Point.
This is still the most prestigious road race for a South African pro to win. When the business end of the field flies over the finish line in Green Point for the 39th time on Sunday 6 March 2016 – long before many of the other riders have started – serious fireworks followed
The winner was already known when we walked from our home to watch the thousands of cyclists streaming past Clovelly and through Fish Hoek heading towards Simon's town.
Clint Hendricks, from team Road Cover, took first place in a time of 2 hours 35 minutes and 31 seconds (2:35:31) in a sprint finish in the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday. Still not as fast as Robbie Hunter in 2008; who completed the 110km course in 02:27:29.
The various restaurants and coffee shops in Fish Hoek are all geared up to make this day the best trading they will probably have before we head into our winter after Easter.
6th March 2016 – Clovelly – Fish Hoek - towards Simon's Town
This year the weather was fantastic when we walked from home on the road towards Fish Hoek to encourage the many cyclists who had been on the road since dawn by waving and calling out encouragement to them.
Since 2006 we have joined many other locals and visitors alike as spectators. In the past we had family members taking part, but not today. They now live in Perth, Australia.
The roads were blocked off from any traffic, and the festive mood in the center of Fish Hoek was as usual a fun experience. In the past we would often meet up with people in our neighborhood, but this year we were joined by our great friends Micheal and Marisa
AGE RESTRICTIONS
In case any of my readers want to participate one day here is some information on the rules. Every cyclist has to complete the tour within 7 hours in order to receive a finishing medal. After that time the finish area will start to close down and roads will no longer be closed to traffic.
In order to compete in the cycling race, participants must turn 13 years old in the year of the event and children accompanying parents on the back of a tandem must be 11 years of age or older.
SOME FUN FACTS ABOUT THE CAPE TOWN CYCLE TOUR
- The fastest men’s record was set by Robbie Hunter in 2008; who completed the 110km course in 02:27:29. (Today the winner Clint Hendricks was close: (2:35:31)
- The fastest women’s record was set by Anke Erlank-Moore in 2007; who completed the 110km course in 02:48:29.
- The fastest average speed of 47.48-km/h was set by Wimpie van der Merwe in 1993.
- Penny Krohn set the record for the highest number of consecutive wins – 25 – within an age group.
- The oldest man to complete the race within the allotted time (7 hours) was Japie Malan who did the race on a single bicycle in 2010 and on a tandem in 2012. He was 92 years old at the time. (No idea what the oldest person was in this 2016 event)
- Mary Warner is the oldest woman to have completed the race within the allotted time (7 hours) in 2006; she was 80 years old at the time.
Have you ever competed in a cycle or marathon race?
The history of the Two Oceans Marathon.
Our annual cycle tour event started officially in South Africa In 1978. Bill Mylrea and John Stegmann, who are credited with being the visionaries and moving spirits behind the Cycle Tour organized the Big Ride in 1977 to draw attention to the need for cycle paths in Cape Town.
1978
Five hundred and twenty-five starters lined up for the start of the 1978 race, and 446 cyclists made it across the finishing line.
Traditionally staged on the second Sunday of March, the country's biggest one- day sporting event is fast becoming a major international draw card and increasingly a boon for business and tourism in the Western Cape.
All types of bikes are allowed.
All kind of bikes
It was amazing to see some participants having a relaxing time during the race. It was still early around eight in the morning when we left our home, so they could afford to stop for a drink before taking on the heavy part of the tour.
Overall, it’s always a fun event we both really enjoy. Some riders look really serious, and others look like they dust off whatever bike they have once a year and jump on it to do the Pick n Pay Argus Cycle Tour. It takes all types. Tall,short,young,old,serious over weight to skinny men and women take part each year.
The scenery is spectacular, so many a rider who is doing the race for the first time will enjoy it for that reason alone. It’s really interesting to read about what happened over the years during this major cycle tour event
Different fashion statements
We were both hoping to see more spectacular show-offs who really join the race to entertain the crowds and to get their picture taken. In the previous years the crowds would really go wild when a funny, dressed up bike would come past. Not many riders took the trouble this year, we wondered why?
A few years ago we did see naked cycles passing by in a group who were raising funds for safer bike tracks alongside the roads in Cape Town. This year I only managed to spot two males who were very sparsely dressed. Its not easy to catch the unusual cyclists among so many.
On several spots the music in Fish Hoek had a strong beat gave the cyclist an extra push. Where we had our morning coffee a couple had set up a whole entertainment setting and sang great songs. The atmosphere was as always full of joy.
We have now arrived back in the main street of Fish Hoek where the last stragglers still have to face the steep hill after Simon’s Town and then the final Killer Hill, Suikerbossie just past Hout Bay.
The rock bands were still playing and a local singer was still performing her typical Cape songs.
Again it had been a great entertaining Sunday.
Thanks for reading about this event.
Nadine
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