The Argus is indeed a distinguished race which every keen cyclist should try their best to be a part of at least once in their lifetime. It is definitely one for the bucketlist. Not as gruelling as the Giro d’Italia or the infamously tough Tour de France, it is still recognised as the largest individually timed cycle race in the world. It is part of a ‘Big Three’ of events hosted by South Africa with the Comrades Marathon being the world’s largest ultra-marathon and the Midmar Mile being the largest open water swim.

109 kilometres of varied terrain sap the energy levels of riders, their teeth clenched, knuckles white and their bicycles swaying in that rhythmic fashion so typical of riders pushing themselves to their limits. But it is not all ferocious competition and professional pride (even though famed riders like Jan Ulrich and Lance Armstrong have given it a go). There are often those who take it less seriously and dress up, brave unicycles or ride on tandems. The race is never short on characters and there are often many father/son, daughter/mother combinations. The city really gets involved and the spirit of the race is felt by all.

So if you’re worrying about getting to your starting blocks or just to find a good spot to watch from a grass bank, make sure you don’t have to worry about transport. Check out Cape Town car hire specials that will provide you with an efficient, affordable and reliable ride to the race. Trust us, you don’t want to miss this special time in our city.