Home » Hout Bay Fire Victims to Benefit After Extreme Winds Force Historical Cancellation of Cape Town Cycle Tour

Hout Bay Fire Victims to Benefit After Extreme Winds Force Historical Cancellation of Cape Town Cycle Tour

The famous Cape Town Cycle Tour, formally known as the Cape Argus, has been cancelled today due to extreme weather conditions caused by the equally famous ‘Cape Doctor’… but fortunately, yesterday’s stricken fire victims will benefit. After starting this year’s event, the race’s official Twitter page posted an urgent update saying: “Due to extreme weather […]

By SAPeople
12-03-17 10:37
in Eish!

The famous Cape Town Cycle Tour, formally known as the Cape Argus, has been cancelled today due to extreme weather conditions caused by the equally famous ‘Cape Doctor’… but fortunately, yesterday’s stricken fire victims will benefit.

After starting this year’s event, the race’s official Twitter page posted an urgent update saying: “Due to extreme weather conditions, #CycleTour2017 has regrettably been cancelled.  Please do NOT approach the start line.”

All riders who had already started were to be stopped at the end of the M3, and escorted back on the M3.

The decision was made after consultation with emergency services. The Cycle Tour said it had to take the unprecedented step of cancelling the legendary race – its 40th – because of winds of over 100km/hour on parts of the route and “the need to urgently clear the roads for emergency vehicles to attend to fires”.

The Cape Town Cycle Tour – presented by The Cape Argus, Pick n Pay and Momentum – is currently holding a press conference in the Mother City, streamed live on Facebook. Organisers said: “To all our sponsors, who have backed our decision 100%, our eternal gratitude for your understanding and support.”

The race organisers said “we have heavy hearts but Cape Town Safety First”.

There is a silver lining. The organisers and Pick n Pay announced that all food from today’s cancelled race’s hospitality and waterpoints will be donated to  the Hout Bay Fire victims after yesterday’s horrific fire raged through 650 shacks and left approximately 2,400 people displaced.

The Bike Hub had advised inexperienced cyclists earlier that there was a high probability of severe winds on the Cape Peninsula, and that they should “carefully consider their decision to participate”.

Cyclists, who’ve trained for months, took to social media to say although the outcome is bleak, it was the right thing to do.

Watch Video of Cyclists being blown off their bicycles, Cape Town, 2017

‎Vivian Van Eeden: “‎Argus 2017 cancelled… hello Cape Doctor!”

The race began optimistically…

But this is what happened…

Leading to the cancellation of the race, and a wonderful donation to the Hout Bay fire victims…