There?s a buzz to Cape Town this week, inspired chiefly by Saturday?s first test run for the Cape Town Stadium, where Ajax and Santos spent 90 minutes doing as little as possible to distract from the new arena?s maiden outing by producing an insipid 0-0 draw.

The game was peripheral, though; everyone wanted a look at a remarkable facility that will provide the Green Point Residents Association with plenty to complain about, and the rest of Cape Town a new landmark to celebrate.

But that?s not the only reason for cheer in the Mother City.

This is the time of year when optimism bubbles happily out of the Stormers camp, and talk is of making an impact, creating something special, not just making up the numbers, and aiming for a semifinal (while taking the season one game at a time).

By mid-season the cliches have usually changed to include building for the future, just not taking chances, and continuing to give a hundred percent even though the semis are out of range; for now, though, the thrashing of the dismal Force (who subsequently lost narrowly to the St. Cyprian?s sevens side the following day) at Newlands, with Bryan Habana getting his first try for his new team, means hopes for this Super rugby season will be as high as ever.

And while the Cobras lost to the other Cobras in Paarl (domestic cricket is a deeply incestuous institution), there?s yet more sporting celebration in store, and it comes in the form of a triple dose of cycling.

With Pick ?n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour preparations drowning the city in stretched lycra and labouring bikes, this week Cape Town and Johannesburg will get a media update from the Absa Cape Epic crew on the race?s progress; and in particular, how this year?s celebrity riders are going in their preparation for the 2010 race, as uncompromising an endeavour as ever.

I played golf with Shaun Bartlett on Friday, and he?s riding furiously in anticipation (he?s had to forego the J&B Met this weekend for four day training camp that sounds like it?s been orchestrated by Rudolf Straeuli and ...);

Joel Stransky assures me he?s doing the same, and Raymond Hack may or may not have left his position at Safa in order to train more diligently for the most brutal test in world mountain biking.

Expect plenty of questions directed the way of the celebrity riders (Chester Williams and Michael Mol also amongst the charity participants); expect even more questions, however, on a marginally more celebrated rider who?s rumoured to considering a ride in the 2011 Epic, and who forms the other impending cycling attraction.

March 9-11 will see Lance Armstrong arrive in Cape Town under the auspices of the JAG Foundation, an ambassadorial visit that will see the seven-time Tour de France champion endorse the foundation's projects, take part in assorted fundraising events, and quietly appraise the Cape for a possible assault in a year?s time.

Armstrong?s just left Australia, where he rode in the Tour Down Under, part of the build-up to what, script going accordingly, will be an eighth and final victory ride down the Champs Elysees, before taking his Livestrong charity work up another level. And that could include another South African sojourn, but this time to try out a race he?s mentioned a number of times he?d like to have a crack at.

Kevin Vermaak, the Epic?s head honcho, will be understandably evasive on the topic ? he?d love to announce Lance?s participation as confirmed, but for now it remains educated guess and no more.

Conjecture will grow this week, though, and there may well be confirmation when Team Armstrong rolls into town in six weeks. Until then, though, there?s plenty to keep Cape Town?s sporting disciples occupied: the horses this weekend, the Cape Town Tens (and rugby?s first visit to the new Cape Town Stadium), and a Super 14 season that Robbie Fleck assures me we?ll finish unbeaten as long as he?s allowed to come off the bench.

It?s a good couple of months ahead, then; and by then, we may well have confirmation that another Lance Armstrong visit is primed to take the edge of post-World Cup blues.

  • The Lance Armstrong visit includes a day out with some of the children the JAG Foundation supports, followed by an evening banquet; a day riding with Armstrong, followed by a team dinner (limited number of riders); and a breakfast with cycling?s definitive champion before he departs. Phil Liggett and I will be hosting the events; if you?re interested in coming along to any of them, and supporting the work the JAG Foundation does, click here for information and bookings.

  • Last week, Tim Horan was confirmed for the Castle Cape Town Tens; today, Ireland and Lions eighthman Eric Miller is added to the list, meaning we now have a world class loose forward as well as a world class centre participating (both noticeably absent last year). Miller played 48 games for Ireland, as well as the second Lions Test against South Africa in 1997, before quitting union and having a spell in the lunatic world of Gaelic football. Now he?s headed for Cape Town, and a stellar weekend; tickets are going fast, so get to www.capetowntens.com if you?re yet to sign up.

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  • Contact Dan at dan@metropolis.co.za