Videos and photos showcasing the extreme weather conditions at the start of the cancelled Cape Town cycle tour have been shared rapidly on social media.
With extreme wind expected for most of the route, the organisers of the world’s largest timed race have announced on Twitter that riders should not approach the start.
The route was originally shortened early on Sunday morning to 78 km due to damage to roads in certain sections along the route as well as expected protest action later in the day.
Statement from tour organisers
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 10:00.
For more information on the 2017 Cape Town Cycle Tour, please follow us on Facebook, twitter (@CTCycleTour) and on Instagram (@ctcycletour).
Meanwhile social media users have taken to twitter to share their videos and photos from the race. Check out the compilation below:
How crazy is this wind in Cape Town – cycle tour cancelled 😳😳😳😳#CycleTour2017 #southeaster #windymuch pic.twitter.com/kNpkcoe9Ev
— Garth Breytenbach (@OMGBreyts) March 12, 2017
Was sent this video from this morning's #CycleTour2017 in Cape Town. Wind forced the abandonment of a 35,000 cyclist event. #notailwind pic.twitter.com/ujVSaVIPcK
— Ross Tucker (@Scienceofsport) March 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/sophieturnell1/status/840826524311928832
Annulation du Tour de #CapeTown (@CTCycleTour) en raison du vent… On comprend ! 😳😳
(🎥@Neil_Schreuder)#CapeTown l #CycleTour2017 pic.twitter.com/mJUTzocEro
— La GazetteDes Sports (@GazetteDesSport) March 12, 2017
#CycleTour2017 cancelled due to winds. Footage courtesy of @BruynPierre pic.twitter.com/pZrhTlqkoG
— Mark Fitzjohn (@mfitzjohn) March 12, 2017
Or like this @MrVktoyou #CycleTour2017 pic.twitter.com/V8B44TARqN
— Stuart Slyper (@SSlyper) March 12, 2017
#CycleTour2017 A short glimpse into the severe conditions the riders can expect this morning. pic.twitter.com/JXmebw4qgq
— EWN Sport (@EWNsport) March 12, 2017
And as South Africans do… some social media used funny photos to make the mood a little lighter.
To all the riders that has trained & travelled far, we are sorry about the strong South Easterly wind. @CapeTownCT #CycleTour2017 pic.twitter.com/Kq8FzHHdOe
— HooHooMarketing (@HooHoomarketing) March 12, 2017
Spotted in Cape Town… #CycleTour2017 #arguscycletour pic.twitter.com/PMDUn3Oe5o
— MTB Dirt Rider (@MTBDirtRider) March 12, 2017