Matt Damon and his Brother Complete Cape Argus.

Matt Damon and his brother impressively completed what has become to be called the Toughest Argus Cycle Tour Ever.

Photo: Dewaldt Du Preez


“IT WAS fabulous! Of course I would do it again! ” yelled Oscar-winning actor Matt Damon as he climbed off his bike after cycling a gruelling 110km in yesterday’s Cape Argus Tour. Damon, in Cape Town to film The Human Factor, about the 1995 Rugby World Cup, under the direction of Clint Eastwood, was joined by his younger brother, Kyle, on a tandem. “We’ve never been on a tandem before,” Matt said, adding that he was concerned about the wind. Nerine Pienaar, with her sons, watched her rugby-hero husband, Francois, set off. Damon is playing Pienaar in the film. Morgan Freeman plays former president Nelson Mandela. Asked if her husband would give Matt cycling advice during the race, she said he probably wouldn’t need it because Kyle was an experienced contestant in the Ironman endurance competition. Matt performed valiantly considering he suffered a sprained ankle on Thursday in a rugby practice session coached by former Springbok Chester Williams. This year’s race was billed as the most challenging in the event’s 32-year history because of the gale-force winds of up to 140km/h. The Damon brothers, who arrived at the finish shortly before the seven-hour cut-off time, were whisked away in a golf cart seconds after climbing off their bike to applause and loud whistling by the crowd. “We had to call a mechanic, our bike was stuck in one gear,” a sweaty Matt said. The star of the Bourne films cycled to raise funds for the charity Make A Difference. Severe winds at the start of the race caused havoc with riders and spectators, whose hats and sunglasses went flying. People, portable toilets and sound equipment were blown over. Of the 35000 cyclists registered to race, only 26000 started. “This is 6000 to 7000 fewer than usual and it is due to the wind,” said David Bellairs, co-director of the Cape Town Cycle Trust. “It’s been the most difficult event in 20 years,” Bellairs said. The winner of the men’s race was Arran Brown, of Team Medscheme, in 2hr 46min. He was followed by Barloworld’s Robbie Hunter. More than 1000 riders clad in Nedbank green were led by the banking group’s chief executive, Tom Boardman. “Are you COPING?” read the T-shirts of 120 cyclists riding in the colours of the newly formed political party, Congress of the People. Though e.tv’s weatherman, Derek van Dam, said that not even he had predicted such strong winds, riders kept their spirits up in weird and wonderful superhero costumes — and even a leopard suit. The Chapman’s Peak Drive and Suikerbossie sections of the tour were closed at 4.30pm, ahead of schedule, as the wind worsened.
- The Cape Times