He?s a resilient sort, is my mate Thrush, or Kevin McCallum, as his loyal brigade of readers at The Star will know him. He?s survived a World Cup in France, and R50 Heinekens; an Olympic Games in Beijing, and a night with a Bulgarian women?s weightlifter I?m not allowed to talk about; and last year?s McCallum Trophy at Sun City, where 160 kilograms of Tank Lanning nearly sat on the little Irish sportswriter. But actual bodily damage, other than to the world?s most punished liver, has been avoided ? until yesterday, and this year?s running of the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour.

McCallum?s been training furiously these past months, riding on the tails of Team Medscheme in the vainglorious hope of a contract (Medscheme opted for a 22-year-old sprinter with Olympic potential instead, but apparently it was a close call), and preparing for an all-time media record for the Cycle Tour (that?s time, not beer consumed; McCallum?s had that record for years). A malevolent Cape wind put paid to thoughts of an improved time, but Kev still swept across the finish line impressively ? and then got blindsided by a fellow rider.

Conspiracy theories are already sweeping through across the internet as to who?s responsible; based on the sports stars McCallum?s pointed out the deficiencies of over the years, the list of suspects is almost as long as the try-scorers in any game against the Lions. My money?s on Andy Scott, with David O?Sullivan and Ken Borland as outside bets; whoever the culprit was, he rode straight into McCallum, sweeping him and his bicycle (complete with stabilisers, basket and shrill bell) into a barrier, and leaving The Star?s chief sportswriter hobbling off to the medical town in agony.

Several hours later, and McCallum?s injury had been diagnosed by a medical expert on duty at the finish line: years of training allowed the genius doctor to work out that McCallum?s collar bone was either dislocated, broken, or alright. Which called for self-medication, and an evening drifting away in the twin company of prescription painkillers and beer, thus pulling down the curtain on a Cycle Tour Kev won?t forget in a while.

Predictably, however, the majority of the media will ignore McCallum?s downfall, and focus on lesser aspects of the race, such as Malcolm Lange winning his third title (and the rather modest sum of R16 000), or Lance Armstrong finishing ninth on his maiden trip to Cape Town. Armstrong?s aim was to get Team Radioshack team-mate Daryl Impey across the line as champion, but the young South African had to make do with fourth place; still, with Europe and a place on Armstrong?s team ahead of him, there?ll be many greater days ahead for the unassuming Impey.

Armstrong will pick himself up from his ninth place; he?ll also be back to Cape Town, his farewell on Twitter confirming his affection for the city, and enjoyment of the race. The high-profile visit did wonders for the JAG Foundation, cycling, and Cape Town, and the Absa Cape Epic, which gets underway this Sunday, is almost certainly Armstrong?s next South African target. Between now and then, the gospel of South Africa has a new disciple, and yesterday?s Cycle Tour put a final flourish on Armstrong?s week in Cape Town.

With the Tour de France looming in July, Armstrong is focused on Europe, and a possible eighth victory if he can overcome Alberto Contador; meanwhile, on the East Rand, a small sports journalist will be recovering from his cycling injury, drinking beer, and plotting his revenge on the dastardly rider who flattened him as he wrapped up another successful Pick ?n Pay Cape Argus Cycle Tour. I?m backing the little fellah; after all, if he survived the night with the Bulgarian weightlifter, then the small matter of a collar bone that may or may not be broken won?t keep him off the bike for long.