Cape Town Cycle Tour cancelled as dangerous gales wreak havoc

cape town cycle tour
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - MARCH 10, during the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour 2013 on March 10, 2013 in Cape Town, South Africa Photo by Greg Beadle/CTCTT/ Gallo Images

The Cape Town Cycle Tour, the world’s largest timed event, has been cancelled “due to extreme weather conditions”.

It’s an unprecedented move in a race involving over 35 000 participants, but gale force wind in some areas of the city forced the organisers to draw the curtain. At the time of the announcement, the elite ladies race had begun, but was red flagged before the cyclists could complete the route.

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The route was earlier shortened from 109km to 78km due to “protest action unrelated to the Cape Town Cycle Tour”. But the ultimate decision to cancel the Cape Town Cycle Tour was “made in the interests of [the riders’] safety,” the organisers announced.

The 40th edition of the Cape Town Cycle Tour has been cancelled, due to gale force winds

Understandably, the announcement drew a slew of responses from those on social media. Posts on Instagram and Twitter of the riders’ battling winds flooded the social networks.

#capetowncycletour

A post shared by Gareth Wright (@garethandelouise) on

Not all is lost though.

While you won’t likely see any pelotons out on Cape Town’s streets today, the Tour announced that goods not used by the race participants will be transported to Hout Bay, and donated to those affected by the Imizamo Yethu fires.

And to the firefighters battling the blaze.

Feature image: Cape Town Cycle Tour/Greg Beadle/CTCTT/Gallo Images

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