South Africa: Cycle Tour Bonanza for City

Cape Town is bursting at the seams as 39 000 cyclists and thousands of supporters descend on the city for the southern hemisphere's greatest two-wheel show: the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour.

The cycle tour and its associated events are shaping up to be the most successful yet, said organisers.
Africa 2007

About 2 000 international entrants and 20 000 cyclists from outside the Western Cape will join 17 000 local riders for the 2007 leg of the world's biggest timed cycle race, which starts at 6.15am on Sunday.

About 35 000 riders are expected to actually start the 109km race, with the weather prediction being "perfect for cycling".

David Bellairs, co-chairman of the tour's organising committee, said the event had grown since last year.

"We had the biggest Mountain Bike Challenge event in the country, our junior and tricycle tours were up in numbers, attendance at the expo is up, and we've got huge foreign interest in the event as well.

"We're having an excellent year and we are very excited."

Business is booming in the city, with hotels and car rental companies enjoying a bumper period.

Cape Town Tourism manager Mariette du Toit-Helmbold said early indications were that visitor numbers were up on previous years.

"We are definitely seeing higher figures than before. This a good indication that the cycle tour is well known globally," she said.

"Cape Town is bursting at its seams."

Helene Rossouw, from the Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa, confirmed that hotels had had a huge influx of guests.

"Traditionally the tour is very good for all hotels and accommodation establishments."

Airports Company South Africa spokeswoman Deidre Hendricks said Cape Town International airport had also been "quite busy" yesterday and they were expecting a busy weekend ahead of Sunday's race.

"All airport partners are working hard to make sure that the airport is able to manage the influx of passengers," she said.

"To assist the cyclists, a special bicycle collection and drop-off point has been put in place, with the necessary directional signage available throughout the airport."

Cycle retailers are reporting an exceptionally busy fortnight, with riders bringing in their bikes for repairs and to stock up on tubes, puncture kits, new wheels, cycle gear and more.

Stephan du Toit of Action Cycling said bicycles had been booked in a month before the race for repairs, tuning and last-minute adjustments. Tubes, pumps and tyres were the main sellers, he said.

Capetonians can watch out for a few big names who will be riding the race for charity, including former Tour de France winners Greg Le-Mond and Jan Ullrich, and well-known cyclist Steven Rooks.

Three times Tour de France winner LeMond will be riding the tour for the first time, to raise money for people with diabetes.

He arrived yesterday and met Ullrich at the V&A Waterfront, where they admired Table Mountain.

"It's beautiful; it's been a whirlwind of a day," LeMond said. "Tomorrow morning I'm hoping to go on a bike ride - the best way to see a city is on a bike."

The good news for cyclists is that the heat of the past few days should abate before race day.

Bellairs said it was "perfect cycling weather".

The Cape Town weather office has released a special report for the cycle tour with detailed forecasts for the various parts of the race.

At the start, cyclists can expect partly cloudy conditions with no rain between the City Bowl and Muizenberg, with a minimum temperature of 16°C, a maximum of 25°C, and a moderate north-westerly reaching 25km/h.

Between Muizenberg and Sim-on's Town, the north-wester could reach 30km/h, with a maximum temperature of 24°C.

Simon's Town to Cape Point will have similar conditions.

Cape Point to Kommetjie will have cloudy periods with possible drizzle, a maximum of 22°C and a north-westerly at 30km/h.

Between Kommetjie and Chapman's Peak, cyclists can expect more cloud with possible drizzle and a maximum temperature of 22°C.

Chapman's Peak to Camp's Bay will have similar conditions, and at the finish between Camp's Bay and Green Point there will be cloudy patches and a maximum of 24°C.


By Zara Nicholson
Cape Town
Additional reporting by Leeshay Collison, Natasha Prince and Sivuyile Mangxamba