Ride Your Race to Win!

The arduous Argus Cycle Tour taught me a lot about myself—and about an even more important race we are all in.

The Argus Cycle Tour is the largest timed cycle race in the world. Its 110 kilometers up and down the murderous Cape mountains in South Africa should only be attempted by the best prepared of cyclists.

In 2005, in addition to the “normal” arduous conditions, the entrants had to contend with the “Cape Doctor”—howling winds reaching speeds of 70 to 80 kilometers an hour.

The worst of times?

In the Cape Argus newspaper after the race, Mike Wills, a journalist addicted to cycling, was driven to parody Dickens: “Dickens [got it wrong]: this was the worst of times, and the worst of times,” he cried. “I lost my membership of the five hour club!”

Indeed, the average finisher reported an increase of at least a full half hour over his time the previous year. That is, those who were brave enough to soldier on to the end. With the treacherous crosswinds, especially up the notorious Chapman’s Peak, the number of accidents shot up!

In one incident, a lone rider behind me was swept right off the edge of the precipice and fell some 30 feet down the mountainside! Ambulances were working overtime, especially the medical helicopters chartered for the event.

“The Cycle Tour has become a global sporting phenomenon,”’ declared Mike Wills in his book The Cycle Tour (2008). “From humble beginnings 30 years ago it has grown into a landmark event around the spectacular Cape Peninsula that attracts a sell-out field of 35,000 riders every year and is the biggest of its kind anywhere in the world. …

“Thousands more enter [every year] but don’t make the start line while many fall out en route, a sharp reminder that, for all its accessibility and broad appeal, the Cycle Tour remains a test that can easily be underestimated.”

Like our Christian challenges

What keeps Christians going through the sometimes massive difficulties and trials that life throws at us? We have a truly great goal—the one offered by God to every human being—the incredible human potential of becoming a child in God’s own spiritual family (1 John 3:1)!

The 2005 Argus certainly presented competitors with massive challenges. But life itself is a difficult period of trials and testing in which we are to build godly character and learn righteous ways.

The biggest challenge on the route, the climb up Chapman’s Peak (reached after 77 kilometers of hard riding), is a long ascent up a narrow, winding path hewn out of the side of a mountain, which in the past has been subject to rockslides, resulting in concrete shelters being built at various points.

Isn’t life like that? Matthew 7:14 tells us “the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it” (New Living Translation throughout). When the going gets tough, many fall out, as is shown in Matthew 13:20. The heart of a person hearing the gospel of the Kingdom may be like seed falling on shallow, rocky soil: initially very enthusiastic, but after a while when trouble comes or persecution begins because of his beliefs, his enthusiasm wanes and he drops out.

Combating complacency

Perhaps many of the competitors were complacent, thinking before Chapman’s Peak that they were over the worst of the wind, and they were almost home.

In several places the Bible warns us not to have a complacent, self-satisfied attitude, particularly not near the end of our race. “I run with purpose in every step,” says Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:26-27. “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”

Enduring to the end

The Argus of 2005 did present competitors with the worst problems near the end of the race. Once you have ridden 80 or more kilometers up murderous inclines in the face of the Cape Doctor, the urge to call it a day can become overwhelming. Worse still, once over Chapman’s Peak,” at 90 kilometers the cyclists are faced with Suikerbossie, a 2½-kilometer slog up and over the final mountain pass. This is where cramps set in! And where many finally call it quits.

In life the Bible tells us that our biggest problems will manifest themselves near the end of this age. Whatever happens, the only way to get through them and obtain the prize of eternal life is to complete the race, to be one who “endures to the end” (Matthew 10:22). And the way we do it is by following the lead of Jesus Christ our Savior—by calling upon the Lord our God to help us, through His Holy Spirit.

The finishers in the 2005 Cape Argus had to endure to the end to complete the race. And make no mistake about it—we Christians are in the fight and the race of our lives, and we dare not give up!

Larry Murray, an ardent cyclist and marathon runner, is a member of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Related links:

• Rising to Fight Again
• Mr. Magoo's Wild Ride
• Run to Obtain the Prize: Take All the Spiritual Exercises Seriously
• Running Behind