The organisers of the Cape Town Cycle Tour, the biggest timed bike race in the world and the pride of South Africa’s mass-participation sporting events, have been forced to postpone the 2021 event to “later in the year”.

The event draws up to 35 000 entries from South Africa and around the world, neither success story conducive to managing a responsible event in during the Covid 19 pandemic. Over and above the huge number of cyclists on the day, the support staff numbers in the thousands, with marshals, traffic officials, helpers, medics and all busy on the day, as well as at the busy pre-race expo and post-race carnival.

READ MORE 2020 Cape Town Cycle Tour A Roaring Success

In a statement, the organisers were clear that the difficult decision was come to via lengthy discussions with all stakeholders, and has been made with the best interests of the cyclists and the greater Cape Town population in mind:

As always, the safety of all participants and the well-being of the broader community of Cape Town remains our most important priority in planning and holding the Cape Town Cycle Tour. With this in mind, the team at the Cape Town Cycle Tour has been closely monitoring the ongoing developments around the ‘second wave’ of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“For several months we have been working hand in hand with the authorities and stakeholders around the possibility of hosting a significantly revised version of the Cape Town Cycle Tour in March 2021. Sadly, current circumstances make the hosting of a mass participation event in any format untenable for the immediate future.

The Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust has thus taken the decision to postpone the hosting of the 2021 edition of the event to a later date in the year.

“We will continue to explore all available options and opportunities that remain open to us in terms of hosting a safe and memorable Cape Town Cycle Tour.

We look forward to bringing you some exciting news in the next few weeks.

Keep cycling, remember to observe all COVID-19 Protocols and be safe.

With warm regards

The Cape Town Cycle Tour Team

Keep an eye on Bicycling’s social media channels for an announcement of the revised date for the 43rd edition of the Cape Town Cycle Tour – you will read it here first!

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