Tag Archives: Argus Cycle Tour

Matt Damon celebrity Argus cyclist

Matt Damon is the most high-profile VIP to be riding in the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour today, together with 35000 other cyclists.

The Cape Argus reports that Francois Pienaar, ex-Springbok Rugby captain,  inspired Damon to participate in the Cycle Race.  Damon plays Pienaar in the movie ‘The Human Factor’, which is about the 1995 Rugby World Cup win for South Africa, and is being filmed in Cape Town at the moment.   Pienaar climbed Mount Kilimanjaro this past week, only to come back and get on his bicycle and participate in the Cycle Tour, all in aid of charity.

The Cycle Tour has been successfully hosted in Cape Town for many years, and is estimated to contribute R 400 million to the economy of Cape Town and the Western Cape through entry fees, accommodation and restaurant costs, and travel costs.   Part of the monies generated by the race will go to charities.    The Tour also plays an important tourism marketing role for the city and its environs. 

For the first time in a number of years, the Cycle Tour will go through Chapman’s Peak, but only after the cyclists have signed an indemnity absolving the race organisers from any responsibility.

Argus Cycle Tour opens Chapmans Peak

Chapman’s Peak is to re-open especially for the Argus Cycle Tour on 8 March, the Cape Argus reports.   Race participants will have to sign a special indemnity, and agree to use the road at their own risk.   The opening of the road is subject to the safety of the 30 000 cyclists participating in the race.

The MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism Garth Strachan met Cycle Tour representative Ken Sturgeon, and agreed to re-open the scenic road between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, which has been closed for the past few months since heavy winter rains caused heavy rockfalls. 

The province has also agreed to investigate the reason for the continued delays in re-opening Chapman’s Peak, a popular tourism route, and important link to the city for Noordhoek residents.

Rio comes to Cape Town!

Cape Town is to have its own Rio-style Carnival as of March 2010.   This was announced by Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille last night.

The Cape Town Carnival will run from 12 – 14 March 2010, the weekend in between the Argus Cycle Tour and the Two Oceans Marathon.   It will be a weekend of music, dance and cultural expression, and “is a celebration of diversity”, according to its website www.capetowncarnival.com

The theme of the first Cape Town Carnival will be “Rhythm, Roots & Boots”.  It aims at “celebrating uniting diverse communities through music, dance and creativity, show-casing the best of Cape Town, annually…” says Dr Rachel Jafta, the Cape Town Carnival Trust Chairman and University of Stellenbosch Associate Professor of Economics.  “We wanted to create something new, where communities interact and celebrate our uniqueness, but also unite as citizens of one of the most beautiful cities of the world.” she added, reports the Cape Times.

The Trust team are largely unknown to the tourism industry, and includes Clarence Ford, radio presenter and previous owner of the now defunct Manenbergs, Craig Lemboe, Eldridge Moses, Anton Liebenberg, Henry Hockey, Themba Nolutshungu, Fritz Marx and Programme Manager Isabel Meyer.   It is worrying that the Trustees do not appear to have Tourism or Event Management experience, and that the tourism bodies Cape Town Tourism and Cape Town Routes Unlimited are not involved.

On 12 March 2010 the Carnival will kick off with themed balls and dance shows in community halls around Cape Town,  as well as with street, club and beach parties.    On 13 March floats will parade through the city.