The Cape Town Cycle Tour 2018

In October 2017 I took ill with encephalitis which seriously impaired my balance. Over the next few months I was diagnosed with both Benign Positional Vertigo and Vestibular Neuritis, both of which are caused by problems in the inner ear. However, I seemed to improve to the point where I could get on my bike, and ten days before the Argus I started riding my MTB again in the local vineyards. I rode the Argus on my MTB, with a great deal of strain; the picture above shows me in the jersey with the skull! I had to avoid close contact with other riders and walked up most of the hills. I stopped regularly and even lay down twice at the side of the road to rest. I made it to the finish in 7H26, arriving around 15:15, well within the cut-off time of 17:00 and even received my finisher's medal. After the race I discovered that according to Rule 2.11 I did not qualify as a finisher; indeed, as far as the published results were concerned I hadn't even entered! This is the letter I wrote to the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust voicing my unhappiness.

This year, 2018, was my 28th consecutive ride of the Cape Town Cycle Tour. However, due to a preceding injury and illness I was both poorly prepared and handicapped and only managed a time of 7:26. Note that I did in fact officially finish the race; that is, I crossed the finish line before 17:00 and received my medal.

I only became aware of Rule 2.11 when I discovered that I had effectively been disqualified and my entry expunged from the record. Indeed, as far as the RaceTec official results are concerned, I did not even enter the race.

It is obvious that the seven-hour time limit is predicated on the fact that the 10:00 starters only have seven hours to make the 17:00 cut-off. Presumably your reasoning is that it is therefore only fair that everyone else should also be limited to seven hours.

But how fair is it to disqualify a veteran rider with 27 consecutive finishes who actually managed (under considerable duress) to finish the race before the final cut-off?

I would suggest that the seven hour limit for all riders is a meaningless, not to mention unfair, conciliation to the late starters, who by dint of being in the Open Category have made no particular effort to improve their starting time (by doing qualifying races or joining Pedal Power) and are probably in the 'lets just have fun' class. The fact that the late-starters group should put a limit on the rest of the field is ridiculous.

In many other sporting disciplines failed competitors are still recorded as Did not start, Did not finish, or even Disqualified. Technically, I should be recorded as Disqualified, and I dont have a problem with that. What I DO have a problem with is having no result at all. I paid an entry fee and finished the race: if you want to disqualifiy me then so be it, but at least give me some recognition.

In my opinion Rule 2.11 should be amended to have a single qualifying criterion: every rider must make the various cut-offs along the course and cross the finish by 17:00, and every rider who does so will be awarded a result. Note that this amendment makes absolutely no difference to the late starters, and if anything will encourage them to get a better seeding for the next year.

On a personal note I feel extremely aggrieved at having been expunged from the public record.

July 2018