Curses that curtailed cycle tour

Wind, fire and politics cancelled the 2017 Cape Town Cycle Tour for the first time in its 40-year history. The curses of Cape Town, old and new, conspired against it. I wonder if they will threaten future tours.

I have spent most of my life near Cape Town and ridden 11 cycle tours – my best time was a tepid three hours and eight minutes in 1986. Now, one has been cancelled. There are three reasons, all significant.

First was the threat of militant protests at the black township of Masiphumelele to close Kommetjie Road, part of the route. The organisers decided to shorten the tour to 78km, making cyclists turn right at Glencairn, bypassing Cape Point and Masi, and going over “Black Hill” to the road to Chapman’s Peak.

Second were awful fires in the Hout Bay township of Imizamo Yethu, burning 650 dwellings, killing two people. Hout Bay is part of the route but its roads had to be kept open for fire engines.

Third was the wretched southeaster wind, which I loathe. The “Cape Doctor” blows air pollution away from Cape Town but otherwise this frenzied, demented wind is the main reason I’d consider emigrating to Joburg. (Tip to Joburgers buying a house in Cape Town: check the wind conditions of the location before you buy.)

On Sunday, the howling wind at the start made it impossible for the tour to continue.

The worst wind I ever encountered was here. High buildings funnel the wind on to the road. Twice, on my motorbike, the wind was so awful here I gave up going home and spent the night in Cape Town.

On one occasion, I could not push the bike, let alone ride it, and needed the assistance of two strong security guards. I could not have ridden a bicycle one inch.

Fortunately, I never experienced such wind on my cycle tours. I think it is unusual in the mornings.

The race is high profile, the date predictable and thus vulnerable to service protests from dissatisfied communities in the Western Cape. “Community leaders” will know that any protest that stops the cycle tour will draw attention to their causes.

Let’s hope the wonderful Cape Town Cycle Tour continues.