Tag Archives: Argus Cycle Tour

Lance Armstrong adds action to Argus Cycle Tour

The world’s leading cyclist, Lance Armstrong, is riding his first Argus Cycle Tour today, adding prestige to the event, which is the largest cycling race in the world.   

Armstrong is a wonderful marketer for Cape Town, communicating his experiences in Cape Town, via the social marketing medium Twitter, to his 2,5 million followers.  His arrival was marred by the Immigration department at Cape Town International airport not allowing him to enter the country as he did not have a blank page left in his passport.  Surprisingly, this problem was quickly solved, as all arriving guests with such a problem must return to their departure airport, to fix the problem.   Armstrong’s Tweet about the incident was painfully truthful: “Well, made it in to SA. Not the friendliest welcome I’ve ever received but we’ve all seen immigration officers like that. #posterboymaterial“    Some of his Tweets are:  “Done w/ a nice 3hr ride. I’ve heard many times before that Cape Town is stunning. That was no lie. What a place” (9/3); “Just finished a nice 4.5 hr ride. Great roads and riding here on the Cape. Gonna miss it! (13/3).  This is powerful brand endorsement for Cape Town, sent out to Armstrong’s many loyal fans.

Braving a gusting southeaster, the 33rd Argus Cycle Tour will be a challenge for the 38000 participants completing the 109 km of the race, which started in the early hours of this morning in the city centre, and ends in Green Point.

Armstrong stopped cycling competitively (he has won seven Tours de France events) when he became a cancer victim, but he has won the battle against the dreaded disease, and spends a lot of time on cancer awareness projects.   He expressed surprised at the large number of participants in the Race, only having experienced about 200 participants in the Tours de France.

The Cycle Tour is expected to contribute R 400 million to the economy of the Western Cape, coming from expenditure on accommodation, restaurants, fuel, and travelling.  It appears that Cape Town accommodation is less booked this weekend than in the past, meaning that fewer participants from centers outside of Cape Town have registered to enter.

The Cycle Race will lead to road closures today, affecting traffic around the Cape Peninsula.   From 11h30 all city centre roads will re-open, and so will roads around the route of the Race as the cyclists come through the Cape Town suburbs during the course of the day. Victoria Road in Camps Bay, Hout Bay and Bantry Bay will be closed for a large part of the day.

The Cycle Tour has been marred by a large number of accidents involving practising cyclists, not only in Cape Town, but also in Hermanus and near Oudtshoorn, resulting in a cry for dedicated cycle lanes to be developed.

Whale Cottage Camps Bay has already been booked for the 2011 Argus Cycle Tour by Cargo Carriers, who will take over the whole guest house.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

J&B Met has millions riding on it for Cape Town!

The J&B Met has become one of the largest events to be held in Cape Town, probably second to the Argus Cycle Tour, in attracting 50 000 spectators and in generating income of R20 million for the fashion industry alone, with further income benefits to the Mother City of expenditure on accommodation, restaurants, car rental, and shopping. 

Taking place at Kenilworth Racecourse today, the J&B Met is THE society event of the year in Cape Town, and is all about style, glamour and fashion.   It showcases the best fashion design in the country.   The theme this year is “In Full Colour”, allowing fashionistas to express their creativity on a perfect Cape Town summer’s day.

The J&B Met is branded in 400 shops around the country, even in Durban and Gauteng, to gain marketing mileage for J&B.   Fashions than can be worn to the Met are on display in the shop windows. 

Sixteen horses will gallop to the finish line, competing for the R 2,5 million prize money.   The J&B Most Elegant couple will also be selected.

More information can be obtained from www.jbmet.co.za 

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Argus Cycle Tour adds a spin to Cape Town economy

The Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour generates a significant revenue for Cape Town and its surrounding towns and villages, whilst also raising funds for charity.   The Cycle Race this year is expected to generate R 400 million in accommodation, restaurant, petrol, car rental, shopping, and cycling accessory expenditure over the three day period of 12 – 15 March.

The recession has made itself felt with somewhat fewer entries from other provinces, say the Race organisers, reports the Cape Argus.   International entries are still open, and come in much closer to the time of the race.  

The 109 km race on 14 March will see 35 000 cyclists ride around the Cape Peninsula.  It is the largest individually timed cycle race in the world.  The Race is organised by the Rotary Club of Claremont and the Cycle Tour Trust.   Last year R 2,5 million of the proceeds went to charities, while a further R 2,5 million went to organisations supporting the development of cycling as a sport. 

The Race starts at 6h30 at Hertzog Boulevard, goes via Newlands, Wynberg, Lakeside, Simon’s Town, Noordhoek, via Chapman’s Peak to Hout Bay, Camps Bay, Sea Point, and finishes in Green Point outside the new Cape Town Stadium.   The cyclists drink 50 000 litres of Powerade, 160 000 litres of Coca Cola, 100 000 liters of water and 50 000 kg of ice during the race.

A week before the Cycle Tour, the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Mountain Bike Challenge will be held on 6 and 7 March at Boschendal.

Post-script 6 February

Lance Armstrong has announced via Twitter that he will be riding in the Argus Cycle Tour.  The organisers have welcomed his participation: “He is cycling’s superstar and has done more for the global growth of the sport than any rider in history”. 

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com

Cape festive season tourism numbers down

The festive season saw fewer holiday makers in the Cape, they stayed for a shorter period, and they spent less during their stay, say the tourism authorities, reports Fin24.   According to the Cape Argus, international tourism numbers dropped by 6 %, compared to 2008, due to the recession and due to the stronger Rand, offering lesser value for money.

According to Cape Town Routes Unlimited CEO Calvyn Gilfillan the Garden Route was quieter, speculating that this was due to the water shortage in the area.   The bookings however were slow compared to previous years, long before the water crisis became a reality.   The Overberg (especially Hermanus) and the Cape Town city centre were quieter, while the Boland reported similar tourism numbers as last year.   The West Coast had improved visitor numbers, being a more affordable destination.

Tourists were looking for affordability, says Cape Town Tourism, and that is why 5-star hotels struggled financially as guests traded down to lower star accommodation or even to self-catering accommodation.   Fedhasa Cape reports that occupancy in 5 star hotels reduced by 10 – 20 % compared to last year, over the festive period, while 3 and 4 star hotels “did better”.

The lower number of visitors from Johannesburg was evident in Cape Town and especially Plettenberg Bay.  It is said that the Johannesburgers stayed home this festive season, to save money in order to renovate their homes, which they want to rent out for the FIFA World Cup, at which time they want to leave the country.  Even the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company had mainly Capetonians as visitors.

At Whale Cottage Camps Bay bookings are starting to look good from 28 January onwards, the start of the weekend on which the J & B Met takes place, and almost all of February is booked out already.  The Argus Cycle Tour in March is also good for business.

Upmarket restaurants have been reported to have also felt the pinch over the festive season, and many did not manage to fill their expensive tables for New Year’s eve, with prices as high as R 2 000 per person.

Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com