Cape Town Cycle Tour Launches Melanoma & Skin Health Awareness Campaign
This initiative is dedicated to the memory of Tim Brink, previous editor of Bicycling Magazine and a respected figure in South Africa’s cycling community.
In a world first, the Cape Town Cycle Tour will be inviting between 1 500 and 2000 of this year’s entrants to a free melanoma screening, conducted by dermatologists at the 2025 Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Expo.
This initiative is a celebration of a great man and a potentially life-saving intervention for event participants
“In 2024, the cycling community lost a dear friend, Tim Brink, to cancer. His battle began with melanoma, which was only diagnosed after it had already spread. Tim was a celebrated journalist and an accomplished cyclist, and this initiative—which we hope to expand in the coming years—is both a tribute to a great man and a potentially life-saving intervention for event participants,” said Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust Director, David Bellairs.
Presented by Clicks, with the support of Eucerin, La Roche-Posay, Bioderma, Dermalogica, Cipla, and ISDIN, the melanoma screening will take place at the event’s Expo venue. All entrants will receive an email invitation to complete a questionnaire, which will help identify those most at risk and best suited for screening.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Cape Town Cycle Tour in launching this inaugural melanoma testing initiative. At Clicks, we believe that taking control of your health starts with knowledge and proactive care. This collaboration is a powerful way to empower cyclists and the wider community to prioritize their health, and we are proud to support such an important cause. As always, we encourage everyone to Choose Your Health—because early detection can make all the difference,” said Dr. Melanie van Rooy, Chief Marketing Officer of Clicks Group.
The initiative is spearheaded by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, renowned Cape Town dermatologist Dr. Dagmar Whitaker, and Healthspan Physician Dr. Michael Mol.
Cyclists are particularly at risk of developing skin cancer due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Dr. Michael Mol explains, “Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, but it offers a unique advantage: it is one of the few cancers that can be seen. Detecting it early, before it spreads, dramatically increases survival rates and makes treatment far more effective. With skin cancer, there is no excuse to miss what is in plain sight.”
“This initiative is dedicated to the memory of Tim Brink, beloved editor of Bicycling magazine and a respected figure in South Africa’s cycling community. His battle with melanoma has become a powerful inspiration for us to take action and protect others. This is a movement that redefines how we approach skin cancer prevention through public events,” said Premier Alan Winde.
The results of the melanoma screening will be shared directly with each participant, along with a risk assessment indicating the urgency of medical attention required. Dr. Whitaker has committed to fast-tracking high-risk individuals for medical care in their respective regions.
The Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Expo takes place from 6 – 8 March 2025 at the DHL Stadium, Cape Town.
How the screening will work:
View this post on Instagram
READ MORE ON: Cape Town Cycle Tour Health Screening melanoma
