Big blow for cyclists

13 March 2017 - 08:02 By ARON HYMAN
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DEVASTATION: Residents started rebuilding on Saturday after fire ravaged the Mandela Park community near Hout Bay
DEVASTATION: Residents started rebuilding on Saturday after fire ravaged the Mandela Park community near Hout Bay
Image: DAVID HARRISON

Wind, fire and protest action led to the decision to cancel this year's Cape Town Cycle Tour. It was the first cancellation of the event in its 40-year history. Yesterday's tour had drawn 35000 participants, including many from abroad.

Videos taken at the starting point on the city's foreshore showed cyclists being blown off their bicycles.

Organisers said the decision was taken to protect participants from "potential fatality".

Some cyclists had started the event but were advised to turn back before the end of the M3 motorway due to the winds, which gusted at up to 100km/h.

  • Cape Town shelters fire victims in halls and tentsThe City of Cape Town is still tallying the numbers after fires over the weekend left 10 people dead. 

"This, combined with a large fire that broke out in Hout Bay early yesterday and the risk of protest action en route, were contributing factors to the decision made to stop the event," said Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust official David Bellairs.

A protest over shack demolitions near Masiphumelele in the south peninsula forced the route to be shortened from 109km to 78km before the cancellation.

Firefighters were also battling a blaze above Hout Bay Heights. It was the second day of fires raging in the area. On Saturday fire destroyed at least 3500 homes.

  • Wind‚ fire and protests put paid to Cape Town Cycle TourWind‚ fire and the risk of protest action resulted in the decision to cancel the 40th edition of the Cape Town Cycle Tour on Sunday. 

"The decision to move the event to a different date I think is something that needs to be discussed by the board of trustees. I think it's highly unlikely at this point," said Bellairs.

He said no one would be refunded for the event.

Cyclist Greg Anderson suggested organisers reduce the fees by half for next year's registration for those who had paid to ride this year.

"The sad thing is the expenses and man-hours have gone into it already," said Anderson.

Philip Robinson and his wife Caroline from the UK said the tour would have been the "icing on the cake" of their visit to South Africa.

It cost them about R40000 for the flights and luggage - including more than R6000 for transporting their bicycles.

"We booked it last April; so it's a little disappointing. But I'm glad I'm not cycling in that wind," said Caroline.

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