Cape Town Cycle Tour: A Spectator's Tale
Twenty-four years have seen me, a Hout Bay local, turn from an intrigued onlooker to a seasoned spectator of the Cape Town Cycle Tour. I've witnessed the annual invasion of our town by a colourful peloton, each year bringing a fresh spectacle right to our doorstep.
The debut year was an initiation of sorts, the whirl of excitement that had us, and especially the kids, up at dawn. With camping chairs, mobile braai in tow, and music for the tired pedaling souls, we'd claim our spot at the base of the infamous SuikerBossie. Cheers and encouragement were our contributions, urging those determined cyclists up the hill.
The bottom of Chapmans Peak offered a different flavour: a breakfast viewing spot, followed by an arduous walk under the relentless sun to the top of Suikerbossie, with pit stops not for rest but for vital sunscreen reapplications - kids' noses first, ours... occasionally forgotten.
Impromtu "Arnica Stop"
Some years brought an impromptu role as pit crew, armed with kids' music instruments and buckets of water to soothe the overheated riders. Our impromptu 'arnica stop' was born of a mix of confusion and compassion, and the sidewalk in front of our home turned into an unexpected rest stop.
A moment from today's race - think they are waiting for Daddy to come past.
Then there were the years we'd skip town, escaping the festivities for a quiet day elsewhere, only to be met with an unshakable sense of missing out on something intrinsically important.
Geography dictated our engagement with the race; in earlier years, a downhill drive accommodated little legs and a hefty cooler bag, while later, a move to the other side of town meant a downhill stroll to the festivities, albeit without the now-grown kids who'd found their own way to enjoy the race from afar.
46th Cape Town Cycle Tour
Today, my company was of the four-legged variety: my loyal Bouvier Yorkie. Somewhat sidewalk-bound and on a short leash, he was a gem - enthusiastically meeting and greeting all supporters of the 46th Cape Town Cycle Tour.
The scene at SuikerBossie was still fresh; the dress-up-for-a-cause brigade had yet to make their appearance, but the cramps and flats were already making their claim.
The town transformed into a mini-festival, with music, laughter, and the aroma of treats intermingling with applause. Families set up camp, the day unfurling with the race - a reminder of the cycle of years gone by and the joy of community in the face of a challenge.
From a spectator's view, each Cycle Tour gearing through our town is more than a race; it's a marker of time, a thread in the tapestry of Hout Bay life, and a testament to the enduring spirit of both the cyclists and those of us cheering from the sidelines.
Kent Main: SA (2:31:21) MAINTRAIN @kentmain
Tiffany Keep: SA (2:12:01) @tiffanykeep
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