Cape Town Cycle Tour cancelled as dangerous gales wreak havoc

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.

Ladies Elites lining up at the start chutes! #CycleTour2017 pic.twitter.com/pnqqDLnHRH

— Cape Town Cycle Tour (@CTCycleTour) March 12, 2017

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.

The Cape Town cycle tour was cancelled this morning. 35,000 riders. Unheard of! The cause… Wind!#climatechange pic.twitter.com/E604NolJqZ

— Johan (@Johan48610287) March 12, 2017

Getting blown to pieces at the Cape Town Cycle Tour today. Moments before it was cancelled. Life threatening winds at the start!! #capetowncycletour #wind #southeaster @coolflamgel pic by @my_pics_life

A post shared by Frans Cronje (@frans_cronje_films) on Mar 11, 2017 at 9:42pm PST

Gale force winds in Cape Town today that caused the Cape Town Cycle Tour (Cape Argus) to be cancelled. Via Virgin Active SA pic.twitter.com/9HWFDtkPNA

— Storm Report SA (@StormReportSA1) March 12, 2017

The Cape Town Cycle Tour has been cancelled due to extreme wind conditions in excess of 100km/h. #CapeCycleTour pic.twitter.com/z4x4xDUY50

— Social South Africa (@SocialSA_) March 12, 2017

#capetowncycletour

A post shared by Gareth Wright (@garethandelouise) on Mar 12, 2017 at 12:28am PST

The wind 💨 at the Cape Town Cycle Tour this morning 😱 pic.twitter.com/rHdo6bfK50

— Kelvin van der Linde (@KelvinvdLinde) March 12, 2017

Back on the train after cancellation of @CTCycleTour 2017! A few smiles but a sombre mood overall 😔 #CycleTour2017 @GasantAbarder pic.twitter.com/UoaBlfT0uz

— Bicycles and Beyond (@bicyclesbeyond) March 12, 2017

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.

The Hout Bay Sports Centre & Imizamo Yethu soccer field are ready to receive perishable goods for immediate distribution into the community.

— Cape Town Cycle Tour (@CTCycleTour) March 12, 2017

And to the firefighters battling the blaze.

@SpurRestaurant supports the cancellation of #CycleTour2017 & we’ve donated our burgers to those fighting the Hout Bay fire #CTSafetyFirst pic.twitter.com/eP0adAPnoc

— Spur Sports (@SpurSports) March 12, 2017

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