Support Jessie’s recovery:

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Byron Munton is the kind of rider who can chase a Cape Town Strava KOM in the morning… and still talk like a student of the sport at night.

In this episode, Byron breaks down the exact moments that separate “strong” from “pro”: pacing a full-gas effort (including a Trapeze KOM attempt that came within seconds of a milestone), learning how European racing really works, and what it takes to keep your head steady when the pressure spikes.

He’s also stepping into a new chapter with Modern Adventure Pro Cycling—George Hincapie’s new UCI ProTeam project (debuting in 2026) with big European ambitions. Byron’s recent results back it up too: a stage win and 3rd overall at the 2025 Tour of Portugal.

But the real weight of this conversation is what happens off the bike. Byron speaks about his sister Jessie—hit by a driver while training in January 2024, leaving her in a coma, and the ongoing reality their family has had to face since then.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

- How pros think about pacing, risk, and recovery (when it matters most)

- The mental game of racing in Europe (and why “fitness” isn’t the whole story)

- The truth about chasing big goals while carrying real-life pain

- Why cycling safety isn’t a debate—it’s a responsibility

If this episode resonates, subscribe for more honest conversations with riders shaping the next era of South African cycling. Share it with a friend who needs a spark—and drop your biggest takeaway in the comments.

Cape Town cycling has a rich history...

In this episode, Graham Ward (Western Province Road Commissioner and Chair of the City Cycling & Athletic Club) takes us inside one of Cape Town’s oldest sporting communities—how the club traces its roots to 1891, what’s been preserved in minute books dating back to 1905, and the legacy of riders who went from Cape Town to the Empire Games and the Olympics.

But this isn’t just nostalgia.

We unpack why road racing in the Deep South largely disappeared, how compliance and permits changed the economics of hosting events, and what it really takes to put a race on the calendar today—from marshals and traffic support to ambulances and cost break-evens.

00:00:00 Meet Graham Ward + City Cycling’s origins (1891)

00:01:52 The archives: minute books (1905) + early club stories

00:03:47 Legends & legacy: Jack Rose, hour-record era + Green Point track

00:05:40 City riders at Empire Games & Olympics (1930s–1960)

00:08:19 The old scene: 100km time trials, trophies, Fripp Cup

00:10:53 Why SA lost time trial culture (traffic + safety realities)

00:13:48 Modern club racing: DC, safer circuits, “club races” today

00:14:21 Compliance 101: permits, police, medics, what triggers what

00:17:15 What makes a “real” club? constitution, committee, affiliation

00:19:29 WP League + provincial champs (Durbanville) + virtual colours

00:25:33 Clubs shaping change: meetings, agendas, building the calendar

00:27:27 Event permits: “Cycle Tour rules for 200 riders” + Cat 1–4 system

00:31:03 Safety calls: cancelling races, marshals, ambulance thresholds

00:40:21 What it costs to host a race + why crit racing could work

00:47:47 Deep South case study: Radial/Simonstown league race + risk planning

00:58:28 Motorists vs cyclists: hooting, etiquette, and practical fixes

01:10:03 Quick fire: DC, favourite rides, UCI classic, Cycle Tour

01:14:27 Join the club: pace groups, rides, membership (R400/yr)

01:16:51 Double Century teams + final wrap