The most hallowed of cycling races are The Classics. These are bookended by the Milan – San Remo and the Giro di Lombardia. The latter of which is fittingly known as the Race of the Falling Leaves.

Our Primavera tour on the other hand is henceforth to be known as the Ride of the Falling Rain. Regular readers would know that yesterday’s stage was pretty damp. And today’s ride outdid that. Leaving from Greyton at 9am the sky hinted anticipation of precipitation. And sure enough, 32km later as I turned onto the N2 the heavens opened and the road ran with rivers of rain. The 10km section of highway between the Greyton and Villiesdorp turn offs includes a lovely sweeping climb before the Dassieshoek farm stall. Harder on a bike than in a car. And harder still against a headwind and the fast torrent.

If this seems unappealing. It’s because it was!

Warming up at the ovens of Dassieshoek!

On and on and on over quality road and past spectacular scenery that is the farmlands, Theewaterskloof dam and Franschoek pass. All lost in a frenzy of cycling effort. Got. To. Hit. The. Numbers. Yuck.

But in the end a job well done and I wobbled into Franschoek a spent R10 note. 4 hours of tempo riding with a bit of change.

The view from Franschoek pass.