If you are lucky enough to live in the Western Cape of South Africa, you have the Cape Argus Route on your doorstep, the summer is about to arrive, and you will have plenty of time to train and get in top condition for the Cape Argus Cycle Tour in March 2014…

For those of us that live in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s a whole different story! Winter has arrived, the temperatures have dropped, and the only way we are going to get any cycling done between now and March is by hitting the local gym or Spinning class…     But, we think we may have found the perfect solution!

Teaming up with our partners down at Bike & Saddle, Africa’s leading active tour company, we have an amazing Cape Argus Training Program available for both National and International travellers, personally escorted by one of South Africa’s top professional cyclists – Christiaan Kriek!

A Cape Argus training tour is available every day from Monday 3rd March, right through to Saturday 8th March 2014, and whether you decide to do one, two or all six of the warm-up routes available, you will get a real feel for the Cape Argus Route (and the weather conditions) as you head off with Christiaan and the team.

All the cycle tours in the Cape Argus Special Program include drinks, snacks, lunch, a back-up vehicle with support, and a professional cycle guide to help you get the most out of your training session.

Here is a brief overview of what you can expect (maps and more information coming soon!):

Monday – 3 March 2014 – Cape Peninsula (70km) Road Bike

Get the chance to ride the last 50km of the Cape Argus Cycle Tour accompanied by a professional cyclist as your guide. The route will include the Chapman’s Peak mountain pass and the infamous Suikerbossie hill before passing through the beautiful coastal villages of Camps Bay, Clifton, Sea Point and then finally the finish line in front of the Green Point Stadium.

Tuesday – 4 March 2014 – Cape Point (80km) Road Bike

We will start the day’s proceedings in the sleepy Simon’s Town. Shortly after departing, we will start heading up the Smitswinkel climb featured in the Cape Argus. At the top, we will divert from the route and head into the Cape Point Nature Reserve where we will stop for a coffee to take in the breathtaking scenery, before continuing along the Argus route through Scarborough, Misty Cliffs, and Kommetjie back to Simon’s Town.

Wednesday – 5 March 2014 – Gordon’s Bay (80km) Road Bike

Heading to the Eastern side of False Bay for this ride, we will start just below the Steenbras Dam Reservoir in the coastal town of Gordon’s Bay. After tackling Clarence Drive and enjoying the pristine beaches of Kogelbay, you will climb to the small town of Rooi Els before facing the windy plains of Betty’s Bay. This is arguably one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in South Africa, and there is no better way to prepare for the Argus than training along this route.

Thursday – 6 March 2014 – Jonkershoek (45km) MTB Ride

We switch to the dirt for a day to enjoy one of the world’s best mountain biking destinations. Come see why multiple world mountain biking champions make this area their training ground in preparation for the Cape Epic. It offers riders an amazing variety of terrain- lush forests, spectacular vista points, unique Fynbos vegetation, climbs that head into the heavens and downhill single track that never seems to end. (MTB available!)

Friday – 7 March 2014 – Stellenbosch to Franschhoek Wine Valley (75km) Road Bike

Join on this day as we ride a steady tempo past some of the finest wineries in the country. The ride takes us from Stellenbosch to the old French Huguenot town of Franschhoek. Here we will ride up to the top of the 7km Franschhoek Pass, fill our water bottles at the natural water spring on top, and then make our way down the hair-raising descent into town.

Saturday – 8 March 2014 – Green Point to Camps Bay (30km)

This day will be used as preparation for the last 15km of the Cape Argus Cycle Challenge. We will take this day relatively easy in order to give our bodies enough time to recover for the next day. After breakfast, you will have a relaxing and luxurious spa treatment to get your mind and body in prime condition to perform the next day.

The only thing you need to bring along is your own bicycle and a bucket full of determination – and as you can select as many training tours as you like, you can tailor-make your training program to suit your exact needs and requirements.

Spaces are limited, so get in touch now, and confirm your spot on Cape Town’s best Cape Argus 2014 Training Program!