Following the loss of a beloved member of the cycling community to cancer, The Cape Town Cycle Tour is doing something incredible. In a world first, riders are set to be given free melanoma screenings:
Cape Town, South Africa (11 February 2025) — When the cycling community lost one of their own to cancer, it was a striking reminder that while no one is safe from developing a melanoma, cyclists are at particular risk. In honour of the dear friend that Tim Brink was to many and in the spirit of making healthcare essentials more accessible, the Cape Town Cycle Tour is giving participating riders free melanoma screenings.
“[Tim’s] battle began with a melanoma, which was only diagnosed after it had spread to surrounding areas,” explains Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust Director, David Bellairs.
“Tim was a celebrated journalist and accomplished cyclist, and this initiative, which we hope to extend in coming years, is a celebration of a great man, and a potentially life-saving intervention for every participant.”
“This initiative is dedicated to the memory of Tim Brink, beloved editor of Bicycling Magazine and a respected figure in South Africa’s cycling community, whose battle with melanoma has become a powerful inspiration for us to take action and protect others. This is a movement that redefines how we tackle skin cancer prevention through public events.” Premier Alan Winde adds.
With support from the Western Cape Premier, renowned dermatologist Dr Dagmar Whitaker, Healthspan Physician Dr Michael Mol and different businesses, the free Melanoma Screenings will be presented by Clicks to be available at the 2025 Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Expo.
Due to a combination of factors related to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays, cyclists have a heightened risk of developing skin cancer.
However, despite its fierce presence, Melanoma is one of the easier cancers to catch.
As Dr Michael Mol highlights:
“Melanoma is the deadliest skin cancer, but it offers a unique advantage: It is one of the few cancers that we can see. Spotting it early, before it spreads, dramatically boosts survival rates and makes treatment far more effective. With skin cancer there is no excuse to miss what is in plain sight.”
The Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Expo will be on from6 – 8 March at the DHL Stadium.
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