The start in town is always festive. While it is very crowded, it is well-ordered. There is some initial climbing as you make your way out onto the Eastern Boulevard, but amid the excitement of the occasion it will hardly be noticed. This is a good time to go over your race schedule and to get a measure of the bunch you are touring with. Before you know it you pass the University of Cape Town sports fields and the finish venue of another Cape Classic, the Two Oceans Marathon.

The race is characterised by four hills. The first should not prove much of a challenge at around the 13 kilometre mark. Once over this, the ride to Lakeside along the Simon van der Stel freeway is easy and pleasant. The view over Constantia is breathtaking. Then on to Muizenberg. The road along the coast has its own village charm as you push through St James and on to Kalk Bay. This is an easy part of the tour.

While one may be tempted to go a bit faster, resist the temptation. Rather enjoy the beautiful view of False Bay, bordered by the Cape Peninsula Mountains on the one side and the Hottentots Holland Mountains on the other. Here you may do battle with the southeaster; it is a good time to tuck into the belly of the pack and let the intrepid riders ahead take the blast. You can expect a friendly reception from Fish Hoek residents as you make the left turn and push on to Simon’s Town. On this stretch lie the wrecks of several historical vessels: the SS Clan Stuart (1917), HMSM Bato (1806), Die Gebroeders (1792) and Katwyk Ann Rhyn (1786). Finally you pass the Panama (1862) as you enter the naval village of Simon’s Town.

Onward to Miller's Point and Smitswinkel Bay. The craggy Swartkopberge rise up on your right with the warm Indian Ocean on your left. Say goodbye to the Indian Ocean as you take the sharp left turn at Smitswinkel.

Before you lies the second hill, the halfway mark and Plateau Road. Expect a fairly undulating, if not testing stretch, before you see the sea again. This time it will be the cold Atlantic at Scarborough. The stretch before the third, perhaps most-notorious hill, Chapman’s Peak, has some flat riding, sprinkled with slight inclines.

This is a good place to mentally prepare for the climb. Do not be fooled by the rocky outcrop masquerading as Chapman’s Peak, the real one is around the corner about a kilometre further on. Here you are forced to take it a bit more slowly but it is just as well. The towering view of the mountains above and the ocean below is a moment to fully savour. Beware of the enthusiasm that may overtake you here. Each slope appears to be a summit. Restraint now will be rewarded on the other side of the Peak. Sooner than expected you reach the summit where an exuberant and welcome refreshment point awaits you. The drop from Chapman’s Peak to Hout Bay is steep, the road is cambered and the ride is fast.

On entering Hout Bay you see the imposing Sentinel and you will receive a rousing welcome from local spectators. Look around and you will see the batteries built by the British to protect the bay during the Napoleonic wars. The bronze statue of a leopard on a rock overlooking the bay honours a leopard that was known to sit on this rock for hours in days gone by.

The last and perhaps the most challenging of the four hills awaits; Suikerbossie. Each race has its challenge, each makes its heroes and Suikerbossie is the barrier here. The summit is reached and each rider here is a hero. The challenge is won as you look over the sweep of Llandudno and enjoy the last easy stages of this most majestic of all races. Now it is time to settle into an easy cadence as you speed past the wreck of the Antipolis (1977) and on through Camps Bay. Clifton is next with its perennial building sites and millionaire mystique. Bantry Bay and the finsh comes soon after. This is without doubt one of the most beautiful and majestic of all cycle tours.

Medals go to all finishers.