On this day, the annual Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, countless cyclists throng to his shop, the Culemborg Pharmacy, looking for relief from diarrhoea, medication for tired and strained muscles fluids, cycle tubes and the loo. The pharmacy, perfectly placed a few metres from the start of the race, was abuzz yesterday.
"My father, Dougie Delport, opened this pharmacy in 1967. He is 82 and still works every day. I've been here for six years and I have seen my fair share of drama every cycle tour," he said. While there were no winds to blow cyclists off their bicycles this year, Delport treated several for minor cuts, bruises, aches and pains. The fastest-selling products are usually diarrhoea medication, anti-inflammatories, rehydration fluids, sunscreen, energy supplements, sunglasses and airtime for cellphones. Delport said every year cyclists visited the pharmacy, hoping to find bicycle tubes or begging to use the toilet.
"The saddest incident was when a couple travelled all the way to Cape Town from the UK to participate," he said. "The previous day the husband suffered from heatstroke after spending the day on the beach and on the day of the race the lady tripped and fell when she went to the toilet. So neither could participate."
One man who did not let injury get the better of him was Gerald Kamn, 66, who stopped cycling competitively for a long time after a car knocked him off his bicycle. "This is my second Argus and I am very excited," he said. "But I was out of action for 20 years.
"I remember watching the Argus Cycle Tour on TV and thought this is what I want to do," he said before hurrying into position. It turned out to be a great day for Tyler Day, who won the men's event, while Cherise Taylor was the first woman across the finish line.
Day completed the race with a time of 02:32:10 and Taylor took top honours with 02:49:45. The weather and the atmosphere at this year's event were perfect, but a 78-year-old man suffered a heart attack during the race. David Bellairs, CEO of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, said the man was stabilised on site. "He was then airlifted to hospital. I can confirm that he is in a stable condition. We also treated someone with a broken femur," he said.
Bellairs said he was pleased with this year's event. "We had very good weather - perfect for cycling with a nice cool southeasterly breeze keeping the cyclists cool."This year, organisers received 40000 entries and a maximum of 35000 lined up to race. Bellairs said that 2500 cyclists were foreign participants.