The 40th Cape Town Cycle Tour has been stopped after about 21km due to excessive winds on the course.
Organisers advised riders who have not yet started not to approach the start area.
They said all riders who had already started, would be stopped at the end of the M3 motorway where they would be contained before being escorted back on the M3 by traffic officials. All roads will be opened.
There have also been reports of fires on the route in the Hout Bay area, which contributed to the Cape Town Cycle Tour being cancelled.
Yesterday, the organisers issued an advance wind warning.
Below the full statement:
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.
This is 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.
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.
David Bellairs of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust will be holding a press conference at the Southern Sun Cullinan hotel at 10am.
