Cyclists react to cancellation of Cape Town Cycle Tour
Cyclists have reacted with disappointment to the news that the 2017 Cape Town Cycle Tour has been cancelled due to extreme weather conditions.
Organisers say the decision was taken due to winds in excess of 100km/hour on parts of the route, and the need to urgently clear the roads for emergency vehicles to attend to fires.
"Based on consultation with all the emergency services, the Joint Operations Centre of the Cape Town Cycle Tour 2017 regrets to announce that they have had to take the unprecedented step of cancelling this year’s 40th Cycle Tour," the organisers say in a statement.
"All riders who have started on the route will be stopped at the end of the M3. They will be contained there and traffic authorities will escort them back on the M3."
Thousands of cyclists take part in the annual event, with many flying into Cape Town from Gauteng and other parts of the world.
Organisers say all food from the Cycle Tour hospitality and wate rpoints will be donated to the Hout Bay fire victims.