New start line for 2018 cycle tour

NEXT year the Cape Town Cycle Tour, the world’s largest timed cycle race, celebrates its 40th anniversary with changes to its original route.

The start line for the 35 000 cyclists will be moved from the Civic Centre on Hertzog Boulevard to Castle Street, the road that runs between the Castle and the Grand Parade. The race is scheduled to be held on March 11.

The 2017 tour was cancelled after fierce winds wreaked havoc at the start.

Cycle tour director David Bellairs says moving the start was a carefully researched decision.

“After the issues we had with wind at this year’s start, we immediately reviewed and re-assessed our options for 2018,” he said.

“We needed to be responsive to this year’s challenges and looked to mitigate the wind risk.

“We realise there are very few areas in Cape Town that are immune to the Cape Doctor, but believe with this move that at least participants will not again be subjected to the sort of wind vortices created by the tunnels at the base of the Civic Centre.”

Next year’s race will follow the usual route around the Peninsula to the finish in Green Point, which organisers are also planning to improve.

Good news for those riders affected by this year’s cancellation: every rider who registered for this year’s tour by collecting their race pack at the Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo will get preferential entry before the opening of general entries.

Entry fees for these riders will remain fixed at 2017 rates.

General and international entry applications to the 2018 Cape Town Cycle Tour will open on September 20.