Yesterday’s ride was certainly an invigorating one as we descended through the Hex River pass where the landscape changed dramatically from flat farmlands to breathtaking mountains. The maximum speed reached was in excess of 100km.  What an adrenalin rush!  There were many climbs and descents which added to the cyclists’ excitement.

The beautiful countryside on the way to Worcester

On arrival at Golden Valley Casino in Worcester, we received a hero’s welcome as we were met once again by a bubbly Miss South Africa, Nicole Flint, who appears to be on the verge of committing to next year’s Cycle Challenge.  (No pressure, Miss SA ;)   The media and council representatives were also in attendance.  We enjoyed a short welcome ceremony as we had completed the final 160km stretch of the 2010 Cycle Challenge.

Chef Heidi Le Cordier and two other friendly Golden Valley Casino staff

Representatives from the National Institute for the Deaf gratefully accepted a cheque of R30 000, donated by the 2010 Cycle Challenge Team.  This was aptly handed over by Terence Parkin (deaf Olympic Champion) and Johan Reyneke (Elite Rider), who prove that one can conquer any physical setback with perseverance and determination.

Miss SA congratulates Team Captain Ernest Horn after leading the team 2 400km to the Golden Valley Casino.

After enjoying Golden Valley’s exceptional hospitality, a team meeting and a short rest, we went to Kuipers Restaurant for a wonderful buffet where everyone recounted the highlights of the tour and discussed their participation in the Pick ‘n Pay Cape Argus.

At the moment, the cyclists are buzzing around the Argus Expo to make sure that they are geared for Sunday.  (We’re all wearing yellow, black and red team tops so come and say hello, should you spot us! ) We’ll be arriving at the Table Bay Hotel at 14h00 where we’ll be met by the media, family and friends and we simply cannot wait to be guests of The Best Address in the Cape!  We’ll be handing over our last cheque to Nazareth House, the Table Bay Hotel’s selected charity.

Everyone is thrilled at the thought of being treated like royalty and enjoying the legendary hospitality and luxurious surroundings of the hotel.  One couldn’t ask for more!  The thought of sinking into the plush white linen is already making my eyelids heavy.

More news later today.

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Featuring some of the greatest circus performers in the world, South African families will once again be treated to an evening of the finest in thrills, action, comedy and excitement!

The Great Moscow Circus is coming to town and they’ll be performing at Cape Town’s GrandWest Arena from Friday 16 April – Saturday 24 April and at Johannesburg’s Carnival City’s Big Top Arena from Friday 26 March – Sunday 11 April.

An Enthralling Family-friendly Act

Sun International has taken great measures to ensure ticket prices to the Moscow State Circus have been held at the same levels as when the circus last visited South Africa back in 2006. With special reduced rates for persons under 18 and pensioners and discounts for block booking on purchases of 10 or more tickets – this event will truly be family value at its best.

While performing animals are part of customary circus tradition, a modern circus relies on human endeavour and not on animals. The true circus is a tribute to man himself and his mastery over his own physical limitations. As such, the Great Moscow Circus Tour will not feature any animals in the show and will keep audiences enthralled and surprised anew by the variety and artistry offered by the numerous talented acts.

Proud Hosts: Grand West and Carnival City

“The Moscow State Circus is in constant and high demand around the world, and has always been enthusiastically welcomed and supported in South Africa on its infrequent visits to our shores. Sun International is proud not only to be presenting the Great Moscow Circus in all its glory this year, but also to be breaking new ground by doing this in our custom built arenas”, says Rod Walker, Head of Entertainment at Sun International.

For those who are interested in watching this spectacular performance in Cape Town, what better place to stay than the “Best Address in the Cape” here at the five-star Table Bay? Give us a ring on +27 21 406 5000 to get more details on adding a dash of extravagance to your already exciting itinerary.

To find out details on the shows, head on over to Computicket.

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2010 Cycle Challenge Team

Volker Schuhbock

Johann Maré (Organiser and tandem cyclist) –Sun City

Ernest Horn (Team Captain) – Pretoria

Julandé Maré (Chairperson and tandem cyclist) – Sun City

Yvette Negrine (Vice Chairperson) – Sun City

Shaun Wienand (Safety Officer) – Sun City

Terence Parkin (Olympic Champion) - Johannesburg

Johann Reyneke (Elite Rider) - Worcester

Angelos Frantzeskos (tandem rider) - Johannesburg

Cindy Wilson (tandem rider) - Johannesburg

Clinton Dale – Sun City

Ingo and Angelos get creative for the camera during a break

Richard Sansbury – Sun City

Dewald Hattingh – Kempton Park

Anton Ashenbrenner

Leonard Appelgryn - Dubai

David van Heerden - Johannesburg

Ingo Weldmann - Germany

Misheck Zimunya - Zimbabwe

George van Rooyen - Pretoria

Hennie Fourie - Rustenburg

Sakkie van der Merwe – Pretoria (oldest cyclist on the tour, 68 years old and going strong!)

Jonathan Cohen - Johannesburg

Graham Prinsloo - Brackendowns

Joseph Sehunoe – Sun City

Brian Mosweu - Mogwase

Julande Mare

Reiner Stolz – Germany

Anton Ashenbrenner - Germany

Richard Wimmer – Germany

Markus Kalb - Germany

Lean Janse van Rensburg - Pretoria

Volker Schuhböck - Germany

Rupert Polak - Austria

Dominique Gaines - Johannesburg

Joseph Sehunoe

Yvette Negrine

Misheck Zimunya demonstrates that we only have THIS far to go!

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Nearby school children were excited to see the procession of cyclists arriving in Laingsburg this afternoon,which is known in South Africa for the devastating flood which took place there in 1981.

The Blockhouse outside Laingsburg

Today was a hard day for the riders.  They had headwinds and climbs to contend with and they started off this morning, covering an average of 25km/hour and ended in the region of 32km/hour today.  Although not disheartened, today’s ride took a lot of focus and discipline from the cyclists.

Hennie Fourie - tired but still in good spirits

Tomorrow’s ride is shorter (160km) and the cyclists’ performance will be dependent on the weather.  The danger factor increases as the downhill ride will be very steep and cyclists run the risk of losing control as they climb to speeds of 85-90km/hour.  The lighter cyclists will need to stay at the back of the formation as the heavier riders and bikes will be at an advantage as they have more control.

Angelos Frantzeskos and Cindy Wilson, two of the four tandem riders participating in the 2010 Cycle Challenge this year.

We’ll be on the go from 05h30 tomorrow and, once again, the cyclists will don their reflective vests and lights as we’ll be on the road before sunrise.  Then, we’re off to Worcester to Golden Valley Casino, where we’ll be welcomed by the Mayor, Miss SA and the media as we hand over another cheque to charity.  (More details and photographs will follow tomorrow.)

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Markus Kalb, Richard Wimmer and Ingo Weldmann (team member of the day) from Germany,take a breather in the shade at Three Sisters.

Three Sisters, our lunch stop en route to Beaufort West

Johannesburg resident, Jonathan Cohen, enjoys a few minutes of shade before he gets back on the bike.

We arrived in Beaufort West yesterday at 14h30 - earlier than expected due to an unforeseen thunderstorm.  The team had to stop cycling just short of the planned stretch, purely as a safety precaution.  Some suggested cycling in the rain but when the thunder and lightning started, there was no choice but to wrap things up for the day.  All of the cyclists piled into the buses and we were off to Beaufort West.

The storm approaches.

The cyclists were disappointed but they will make up the distance with a ride to Cape Point once we are in Cape Town.  However, the break did give them an opportunity to recover yesterday as the the heat does drain one of the energy required for endurance cycling.

The physiotherapists used their healing hands to assist the cyclists in recharging their batteries as they worked their magic until about 21h00 last night.  After an early night, the team will undoubtedly pedal with renewed vigour as we travel through the Karoo from Beaufort West to Lainsburg, with a stop off in Leeu Gamka for an early lunch.

Armed with their reflective vests and lights, the cyclists got back onto the N1 freeway at 06h00 this morning as we left for today’s trek of 200km.

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The 31 dedicated 2010 Cycle Challenge cyclists and their support team hit the road at 04h00 again this morning. Cyclists were geared with their mandatory reflective vests and lights for the first part of the trip before sunrise. The destination is the Northern Cape’s Beaufort West via Victoria West and Three Sisters.

When the cyclists reach Three Sisters, they will be travelling on the N1 freeway so safety is of the utmost importance. The Cycle Challenge has set a precedent with an excellent safety record since the first tour eight years ago and Team Captain Ernest Horn is determined to ensure that this reputation is safeguarded.

Two cyclists who deserve special mention for excelling yesterday are Reiner Stolz and Lean Janse van Rensburg, who received the traditional award of a polka dot cycling top at last night’s team meeting.

Reiner Stolz left Germany and arrived in South Africa on 14 January this year and has demonstrated commitment as he was only able start cycling on the road at this time. Lean Janse van Rensburg also did extremely well yesterday, especially as one of the tour’s youngest riders. He was also selected as today’s domestique.

Pensioner, Reiner Stolz and pilot, Lean Janse van Rensburg proudly display the cycling tops they were awarded.

Today’s trip will total another 260km so it’s another long day on the road for the team!

The team in Britstown

In closing, I would like to mention on behalf of the team that our thoughts are with the families of the three cyclists who passed away tragically yesterday in Oudtshoorn.

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We were up before the sparrows this morning as we had breakfast at 03h00 sharp and left Kimberley promptly at 04h00. The team rode through Hope Town, 120km outside Kimberley, and had a lunch stop in Strydenburg (a further 60km) and we are currently completing the remaining stretch for today which is another 80km to Britstown.

Cyclists demonstrate team spirit by having the 2010 Cycle Challenge logo drawn onto their aching calves.

So far the team has been fortunate to have a tail wind which helped them to maintain a good average speed of 40-45km/hour. We are ahead of schedule at the moment and spirits are still high despite the heat which is a sweltering 45 degrees celsius! The cyclists are enjoying a long but easier ride today. There will be regular stops along the way so as not to exhaust the riders.

Leonard Appelgryn and George van Rooyen are jubilant to have reached Strydenburg.

Dominique Gaines, a seasoned Cycle Tour rider, is still smiling after cycling a long distance in the heat.

1 600km down and approximately 800km to go to until we reach our final destination, the luxurious Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town, where our team will hand over a cheque to Nazareth House.  They will also be reunited with family and friends while they recover before the Pick ʹn Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour.

Destination: Table Bay Hotel

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Today was an easier day on the cyclists, who were motivated to get to Kimberley where they would have the opportunity to hand over two cheques of R10 000 each to the selected charities, namely, The Galeshewe Association for Care of the Aged and Sinothando Children’s Home.

Miss South Africa welcomes the team as they arrive at Flamingo Casino to hand over two cheques to charity.

Flamingo Casino approached the Department of Social Services to find two charities that are in dire need of funds.  Lameez Suliman, Flamingo Casino Promotions Manager, says that the Children’s Home was set alight and they are trying to get these children’s lives back together.

Peter Guthrie (Flamingo Casino), Miss SA and celeb cyclists hand over R10 000 cheque to Sinothando Children's Home.

While chatting to Miss SA, I asked her if she would be participating in the initiative next year and she said that it was a definite possibility.  She went on to say, “especially with it being 2010, it is imperative that we have initiatives such as these and [she takes] her hat off to these cyclists for participating in this challenge, purely for the well-being of NGO’s as this sets a wonderful example for other South Africans”.

Meshech Zuminya, one of the cyclists, mentioned that “children are a gift from God and that someone, if not their parents, needs to love and care for them”. This is one of the reasons he is participating in the 2010 Cycle Challenge.

All in all, a successful day, filled with many emotions.  Everyone will sleep well tonight, knowing that they have made a difference in the lives of many people, both young and old.

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After having breakfast in the tranquil setting surrounding our accommodation in Christiana, the team did their morning stretches after a good night’s rest and we were on the road again.

Early morning stretches

We’re en route to Kimberley with 125km to cover. Energy levels are high and the cyclists are enjoying the shorter ride today as they have a chance to recover from the heavy day they had yesterday. (Tomorrow will be another long day with a distance of 258km to cover!)

We’ll reach Flamingo Casino by about 11h00, where we’ll be handing over the first cheque for charity. (I’ll post more information on this later today.) We are expecting a warm reception from the Mayor, Miss SA and the media who will be waiting for our arrival. There will be some leisure time for everyone to relax this afternoon and, perhaps, to peruse the Kimberley Museum. Diamonds are, after all, a girl’s best friend.

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