The Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour is the world's largest individually timed cycle race, annually drawing over 35 000 cyclists including some 3000 foreign entrants, to a grueling 109km route around Cape Town’s breathtakingly spectacular peninsula. It is also the first event outside Europe to be included in the International Cycling Union's (UCI) Golden Bike Series, a quality label that is granted to the best cycling races in the world.

The UCI has, to date, granted this label to only 7 premier cycling events in the world.
Annually held on the second Sunday in March, the route starts in the City Centre, makes its way into Simons Town, turns at Smitswinkel and heads back along the coastline before a harrowing climb up Chapmans Peak followed by a short, steep hill rise to Suikerbossie. The downhill flourish to the finish in Green Point is at this point, a welcome respite for thousands of cyclist pushed almost, beyond endurance.

The Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour is the culmination of Life Cycle Week. This a series of cycle activities include the Cape Argus Lifecycle Expo, the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Junior Tour (6 to 12 year olds), the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Tricycle Tour (2 to 6 year olds), the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Mountain Bike Challenge and the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Giro del Capo.

The Giro del Capo which is part of the UCI's African Tour and a Category: ME (Men Elite) event, will not take place in 2010, and will resume in 2011. One of the most exciting aspects of the Cycle Tour, it involves a series of 4 individual one day races contested by both international and South African teams representing Trade Teams, Nations, Regions and Clubs, each made up of six riders.

The 2011 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour will take place on Sunday, 13 March