The shortening of stage two of the Cape Epic today marked the third occasion in less than two weeks that a high-profile South African race was affected due to adverse weather conditions.
On March 9, the Bestmed Tour of Good Hope’s fourth stage was cancelled due to excessive winds. Three days later the 40th Cape Town Cycle Tour was stopped shortly after the first riders got under way.
Epic organisers announced this morning that the second stage would be shortened by 40km due to the heat and humidity.
A rider cools down during stage one of the 2017 Cape Epic in Hermanus. Photo: Dominic Barnardt/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS
The stage was ultimately raced over 62km with the finish at the Caledon Botanical Gardens instead of Greyton.
“This is a big decision for us and we have never done it before in 14 years of staging the race, but the safety of our riders is paramount,” said Cape Epic CEO Lynn Naudé.
During the first two days numerous riders already suffered from the heat with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celcius.
Similarly, the organisers of the Tour of Good Hope feared for the riders’ safety after they woke up to severe winds before the start of the fourth stage.
A rider taking a fall during stage four of the Tour of Good Hope which took place in the Cape Winelands. Photo: Robert Ward
After consultation with the commissaires, the stage was started, but abandoned shortly after the neutral zone after reports of gale-force winds on the Du Toitskloof and Bainskloof passes.
The cancellation of the stage meant that the country’s premier road classic was decided over four stages instead of five.
The organisers of the Cape Town Cycle Tour issued riders with a wind warning the day before the race announcing that there was a high probability of strong winds within the next 24 hours.
A rider struggles to control his bicycle during the 40th Cape Town Cycle Tour. Photo: In the Bunch
The event was however started the next morning before being called of later.
A statement by the Cape Town Cycle Tour said that it was 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 in the Hout Bay area.
