CAPE TOWN CYCLE TOUR CLAIMS A THIRD LIFE

This past weekend's Cape Town Cycle Tour ended in tragedy for three people in three separate incidents on the 40th edition of the world's largest timed cycle race.

Dave Bellairs, Director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, released the following statement on Monday morning:

We have received the sad news that late yesterday afternoon one of our Rotary marshals passed away in hospital. He was stationed on an S-bend after the Llandudno turnoff. The circumstances surrounding the incident are unclear and we are currently investigating the incident in conjunction with the South African Police Services.

Our Rotary marshals have always been integral to the successful running of the Cape Town Cycle Tour. Most of them work alongside us year after year in a voluntary capacity. They are part of the Cycle Tour family, as are our riders, and we are deeply saddened by this news. We ask for respect for the family’s privacy at this time. We will communicate further information when we have it, if appropriate.

For the vast majority of our cyclists and those working behind the scenes, the 2018 Cape Town Cycle Tour reached a successful culmination after months of hard work. But three families are in mourning for the three lives lost on the route this year. One cyclist succumbed to his wounds at the scene of a pile-up with other cyclists at the base of Wynberg Hill, another is suspected to have experienced a heart attack going up the hill at Smitswinkel Bay, and, as stated, we are awaiting confirmation regarding the marshal.

I want to assure everyone that all measures are taken to ensure participants’ and marshals’ safety on the route. In my 28 years working on the Cycle Tour, there have been only 2 trauma-related deaths on the day of Cycle Tour. Our hearts and prayers are with the families at this very sad time. We have extended our most sincere condolences.

The deaths have overshadowed the race result as Nolan Hoffman (Team BCX) won his third title in a time of 2:37:30 and Kim Le Court (Demacon) took the ladies race in a time of 2:11:50 after setting off from Glencairn, a new starting point for the ladies, for a 76-kilometre race.