So Christoph Sauser is getting ready for the Cape Epic, staying in Stellenbosch and loving Cape Town evidently! I picked this up from @marcperel on Twitter, check how awesome this is:

Sauser (L) and Stander (R)

All those winter stories feel like they happened so long ago already, although I have only just arrived here in Stellenbosch, South Africa, a little more than one week ago. Since my arrival, I have done five road races. First the Giro Del Capo, a four-day stage race, then the Cape Argus, the biggest timed cycling race in the world. 35,000 riders were racing or riding around the beautiful Cape Peninsula. For this entire road racing period, we formed a Specialized South Africa team, and it was great to be part of it. Burry Stander raced super strong, and he always finished top four, plus he wore the Giro’s leader’s jersey for two days!

The Sunday’s Argus was pretty hectic with Lance Armstrong racing, too. It was new to me, seeing bodyguards guiding a bike racer to the start of a race. The Argus is always the coolest road race of my season. We start in darkness, then there’s the sunset along the beach, amazing scenery and all the spectators and breakfast at Camps Bay afterwards – which all makes it so special. Luckily the wind this year was only half crazy compared to last year, where sunglasses started to fly, riders were blown over, Toi Toi portable toilets fell flat on the ground, and lonely bikes slid over the roads!

Now I am really looking forward to Cape Epic mountain bike stage race! I wish we would have more stage races, which create as much hype as the Cape Epic. Also, it will be very special to race in the Songo.info jersey, the charity I formed with a friend three years ago. Basically we started a BMX and mountain bike program in the township of Kayamandi, located near Cape Town. We definitely changed the lives of many young kids, who do not have the opportunity for play that we sometimes take for granted. More information can be found at www.songo.info.

Special thanks must go to Specialized, for donating so many bikes and allowing Burry Stander and myself to race in the Songo.info jersey. It is a special motivation not only to race for your fans, sponsors and yourself, but for the kids and a positive story of good.

Thanks for reading,
Christoph Sauser

Click here to read that full article.

Christoph also wrote another post there “A Month In Stellenbosch” (HERE), it’s quite interesting to see how the international riders love our area. Hey, great success!

I KNOW some of you are thinking of sending me gifts, but there is only one you really need to send me at the moment:

Those are custom Oakley Jawbones and they’ll be awesome for watching sports events, taking part in sports events and just for looking like a ninja when I cruise the streets. How insane would I look just cruising with those? I know!

Alright, let’s make it happen.

So the ABSA Cape Epic starts on Sunday and I’m amped to see how the boys do! The most exciting team to watch is surely going to be the powerhouse combo of Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander (I believe they’re riding together?). Now we all know how tough the international cross country circuit is and we rarely see South African riders doing well in it.

Burry however is a demon and is the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup U/23 cross country champion, riding for Specialized.

Burry Stander…will hurt you on a bike

David George is also riding and a whole bunch of awesome cyclists. Anyway, the ABSA cape Epic website is the place to look for all the latest details, as well as race details once it starts. The race finishes at Lourensford on 3 April 2010, it will be an awesome finish to watch for anyone staying in Cape Town. Take the short drive up there and watch it, I’ll in all likeliness be catching the finish. Great success!

Click here for the ABSA Cape Epic website.

Click here to follow the ABSA Cape Epic on Twitter.

Every day of my life, I’m amazed at the stuff people bitch about. Wind, rain, people not answering phones, traffic, standing in queues, traffic cops, cyclists, girlfriends, boyfriends…if you look at it, most peoples lives are stitched together by bitching. Look at Facebook and see how many people are bitching about something on their status’. It’s beyond abnormal. Now people who know me know that I am beyond chilled.

I take chilling to another level! I just always think “Is this the end of the world?”

And if the answer is no, then I don’t stress.

All I’m saying, is that you really should not be complaining about the Cycle Tour. It’s an amazing event and one that I’ve ridden many times, and supported many times as well. It’s the world largest timed cycle event and gives a huge boost to the Western Cape in terms of money. Plus, it’s just an awesome day out in the sun, supporting the riders and showing support for the thousands of people who help in making sure that the day runs smoothly. Sundays are boring anyway and I love watching the riders come past, especially the ones who don’t race. The people dressed in suits, riding unicycles and dressed up as cartoon characters. These are the people who make the Argus what it is, they create the atmosphere and they ensure that there is no other race like it in the world.

I was on Suikerbossie at 5:40 am on Sunday, and left around 12 hours later. Because that’s how you show support to the people!

I could honestly watch the Argus Cycle Tour every single weekend, it’s such a rad day out! And I really think that if you miss the Argus Cycle Tour or bitch about it…you’re missing the point of living in this city. You should come out and watch it, braai on the side of the road and invite 50 of your friends to party in the sun. To me it’s one of the best social days of the year.

And I honestly never ever thought that I would see Lance Armstrong coming up Suikerbossie in the lead group! It was the most phenomenal Argus Cycle Tour ever, with mad crowds supporting it. If you’re one who complains every year, next year you should come out and watch it, it’s such an awesome party.

Mario and Luigi road, a cow road, some dude even rode in a suit. Kids rode, old people rode…it’s just the most awesome day in Cape Town. And Virgin Active also sent out a group of ‘Active Angels’ to help push cyclists up Suikerbossie.

I caught a little DOS on Suikers before the riders came past!

My photo of Lance being blocked out…bleak!

The Ritz!

You weren’t part of this because you sat at home, bitching about cyclists? Shame…

I honestly don’t know how this dude did the downhills

Rad!

So this is Tracy McGregor, who, I’ll admit, is quite easy on the eyes:

Noe let’s see how she can play Wii with Grant from Gamestate:

Is this what loves feels like?

Click HERE to watch that in HD.

Crisis, and here I thought the guys at Pro-X were good, and then Gaz led me to this. Look, it is 5 minutes long but if ever I am going to justify you using your bandwidth, this is is. This is simply the most abusive level of skill I have ever seen on a bike. Check this out and tell me your mind is not blown:

Now that is how you win life!

That stuff should seriously be out of the realm of human limits.

While I can appreciate the guys doing mad tricks in Moto-X and  BMX’ing, it was the trials biking that had my jaw dropping as if Gisele had just called me to her hotel room for a pick-me-up. Trials involves going through an obstacle course on a specially designed bike, and it’s a sport of mad skills, insane balance and bunny hops like you’ve never before seen in your life. The trials biking at Pro-X was the one time where I was convinced not to look at the promo girls, these guys had me hooked. Here are some shots of the days action (Well last weekend):

At this point the riders were hopping, sideways, up these two poles. Mental.

Hopping from beam to beam on the back wheel, chilled

It’s honestly mad, and if you enjoy this sort of stuff, check out a guy called ‘Hans Rey’, he’s done some mad work in that discipline.

Google image him or check his website, pretty decent stuff!

Those close to me know the exciting news…I’ve invested in a Cape Town villa! I mean, it’s about time.

Check the new pimp pad:

It’s also known as ‘Lady Slayer’ and we’ve kitted it out with Le Creuset and Philippe Starck because we’re loaded.

Picture taken by G-Rof in Cape Town, madness!

I take it you’re a fan of Locnville on Facebook?(HERE) Well they update their fan photos regularly, and I just saw some come up on the Facebook, check this:

I’m just saying.

OMG I’m so upset! Here I was trying to use the power of The Secret to shift the planets to bring Tiesto to Cape Town and they take him to Joburg. I mean really, the BBC are even choosing Cape Town for 2010 because the Joburg skyline is too ugly!

Nevertheless, Joburg now have a chance to get back at me for all the things I say about them…so go ahead and brag in the comments if you want! You guys have won…for a day anyway. I get to stay here all year. Anyway all of that aside, let’s check the details (With my sad face on). And enjoy this…you cannot buy tickets, only win them. Crazy styles!:

It’s been to New York, Moscow, Paris and London, and now Smirnoff, the number one spirit brand in the world, is bringing Smirnoff Experience, MashUp Street to Johannesburg on 15 May 2010. Tickets can only be won, not bought, so visit www.smirnoffexperience.co.za on Wednesday to find out how to win.

Smirnoff Experience is fast becoming the world’s top collaboration platform.  The MashUp Street theme created for South Africa celebrates collaboration between South African street cultures and popular music genres to create a one-of-a-kind music experience.  The popular theme also extends to collaboration between fashion, food, art and even drinks.  Smirnoff Experience MashUp Street is a place where Kwaito vibes with Preppy, Afro funk hangs with Goth and Pop chills with House.

To cement the importance of collaboration, DJ Tiësto, voted the world’s number one DJ three years in a row, will be headlining the event and will collaborating with the very best of South African musical talent, all of which will be named closer to the time.   Tiësto is no stranger to combining different genres of music to create unique sounds; he has collaborated with artists as varied as Nelly Furtado, Sean Kingston and Flo-Rida.

“I feel deeply inspired by this year’s theme for the Smirnoff Experience because it evokes creativity and promotes relationships between genres that would not normally meet on stage.   I can guarantee that, like this year’s theme, people will experience something out of the ordinary.  I am very excited to play for a South African audience at Smirnoff Experience MashUp Street,” says Tiësto.

South Africa won the honour of hosting the Smirnoff Experience in a closely contested international campaign that involved 140 countries.

“We are really proud that South Africa was chosen to host Smirnoff Experience 2010.  Our unique Mash-Up Street theme is focused on creating platforms that inspire South Africans to push the boundaries to create new experiences and we believe that it was the uniqueness of this theme that placed us ahead of the other 140 countries that competed.  If you asked me what the one thing is that South African’s can expect from Smirnoff Experience 2010, I would say that it is going to be clearly original,” says Adrian Petersen, marketing manager for Smirnoff South Africa.

Besides the best international and local talent, concert goers will be treated to a sensory journey that showcases MashUp Street culture in its very finest form.  From the moment ticket holders enter MashUp Street, it will be clear that they are attending an international event that is truly one-of-a-kind.

Tickets are limited to the 18-and-over market.

Not for Sale to Persons Under the Age of 18.  Drink Responsibly

So you better start booking flights!

And maybe pack some Ed Hardy gear. And a few lines of L-Glutamine to snort before the show.

Crisis this guy is hectic! From Sport24:

South Africa’s Ryan Sandes has confirmed his status as the world’s premier long distance runner with victory in the Atacama Crossing in Chile.

Sandes overall time for the six-day event was 23:58:39 – a staggering five hours and 44 minutes ahead of the second place finisher.

Ryan Sandes — Rocking the Oakley Jawbone sunglasses

The Atacama Crossing is part of the “4 Deserts” which was named by TIME magazine as No 2 on its list of the Top 10 Endurance Competitions in the world.

Sandes, 28, who was educated at SACS in Cape Town, is a previous winner of both the Gobi and Sahara races.

So well done to Ryan, that is nothing short of phenomenal!

Click here for the Atacama Crossing website.

I thought you’d never ask!

Lance Armstrong stayed at Ellerman House in Cape Town while down here where he rode the Argus Cycle Tour and I’ve written about this place before, because it was used as the St Barts Hotel in Lord Of War.

So here it is, and it’s disgusting:

Oh look! I just got depression.

Ellerman House is located at 180 Kloof Road, Bantry Bay.

Click here for the website (Photos via there as well)

And if you want to see that on Google Maps, hey, no problem, I made one last time for the Lord Of War scene thing going on! (And yes, that is why I’m referred to as the Mother Theresa of my generation)
View Ellerman House Cape Town — St Barts Hotel in Lord Of War in a larger map

And I didn’t even have to say it! Check this from Dailymail:

It sounds like the perfect base for the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup.

The pentagon-shaped glass studio in Cape Town will be purpose-built and have panoramic views of Table Mountain, Robben Island and the new city stadium.

The only problem is, it will be 1,000 miles away from the tournament’s logistical centre in Johannesburg – and is likely to add £1million to the BBC’s bill. The BBC will broadcast the World Cup from a new £1million studio in Cape Town, with views of Table Mountain

The corporation outbid rival TV stations for the space, which is on the roof of a hospital. It was chosen in favour of the World Cup’s main hub – a former mining area near Johannesburg – where ITV and many other media outlets will be based.

An insider said the BBC chose Cape Town because the Johannesburg skyline was considered ‘too ugly’. Gary Lineker will be part of the BBC’s World Cup presenting team during the month-long tournament

Known as the ‘Mother City’ of South Africa, Cape Town is considered to lie on one of the world’s most stunning natural environments.

But Johannesburg is still trying to shake off the tag of being one of the world’s most crime-ridden cities.

Read more HERE.

Jussus that’s beautiful!

Hey hey?! Look, we do earn less in Cape Town than in Joburg, but I can’t say it costs me all that much to sit on the beach all weekend. Oh and watching the Argus Cycle Tour yesterday? Free. In Joburg you have to spend your money at The Hat, China. Because…oh there’s no ocean and no Table Mountain. Pity.

From the Tiesto Facebook group:

Where is Tiësto playing in May? Somewhere hot…any ideas where it might be?

Click HERE for the group.

Remember, word first broke over two weeks ago on SLXS.co.za of a possible visit to South Africa by Tiesto, over HERE.

Because that’s the way we do things.

So Get Dumb is over for a while, and Chris Jack is now onto this, sick! I was pretty keen once I heard ‘FHM models’ Check it:

Remedy Productions is very proud to launch a BRAND NEW series of events!

THE PERFECT 10

Over the past FOUR years Remedy Productions has been throwing the top u18 parties in Cape Town. Now it is time that we GROW UP!!

What to expect?
PROMO GIRLS ON TABLES
FREE CLOTHES FROM MISTER
THE PERFECT JUG!
LIVE MC
CAPE TOWNS HOTTEST DJs

DJ LINE UP:
JASON BORLAND (Resident of The Perfect 10)
JAMES MAC (Resident of Duck Pond)
SI-MONKEY (Winner Mixtape)
KO-SHER (Resident of Knoxville)

And our headline DJ……..one half of Cape Town’s DUMBest DJ duo….Ladies and Gentlemen, Remedy proudly presents Mr…..CHRIS JACK!!!!!!

The MC for the night is non other than DARREN BLASICH! You know him, you love him, now come party with him

FHM MODELS TAYLA and MELLINDA!!!

Outlaws Models will be sending scouts to check out the talent

DRINK SPECIALS:
FREE DRINKS 9-10
The Perfect JUG – R45

Doors open at 9 and close when you all pass out

Entrance: R40
For more information click HERE for the Facebook group vibe.