Mother City prepares for influx of 30 000 cyclists for the 48th Cape Town Cycle Tour
Cyclists prepare for the start of the Cape Town Cycle Tour at the Grand Parade in Cape Town.
Image: Supplied
Cape Town is preparing for an influx of cyclists and visitors as about 30 000 riders are expected to take part in the 48th Cape Town Cycle Tour this weekend, one of the world’s largest timed cycling races.
City officials say approximately 10 000 of the riders are travelling from outside Cape Town, bringing thousands of visitors expected to fill hotels, restaurants and public spaces across the city in the lead-up to race day.
In 2025, 10 091 travelling cyclists from more than 60 countries took part in the event, underlining the international appeal of the race.
Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith said the City will work with organisers to ensure the event runs smoothly.
“This is a powerful reminder that the Cape Town Cycle Tour is not just a race, but a global drawcard. This week, thousands more riders from across South Africa and the world will descend on the Mother City, filling hotels, restaurants and public spaces as they prepare to take on one of the most iconic cycling routes in the world,” he said.
Smith said the City will deploy personnel from Traffic Services, Metro Police, Law Enforcement and Disaster Risk Management along the route to assist with safety and logistics.
Beyond the sporting spectacle, the event is also a major boost for the local economy. According to organisers, previous editions of the race have been estimated to inject more than R500 million into the local economy, benefiting sectors such as hospitality, tourism and transport as thousands of visiting cyclists travel to the city.
Cycle Tour week officially kicks off on Thursday with rider registration and the Lifecycle Expo at the DHL Stadium.
Organisers expect about 30 000 visitors over the three-day expo, which will feature more than 80 exhibitors showcasing cycling gear, nutrition, technology and apparel.
The expo will run from 9:30am to 7pm on Thursday, 9am to 7pm on Friday, and 9am to 4pm on Saturday. Entry is free for participating cyclists and children under 12, while non-participants will pay R50.
The traditional 109km route will start at the Grand Parade at 6:16am, taking riders around the Cape Peninsula before finishing on Helen Suzman Boulevard in Green Point.
The 78km Invitational Women’s Race and U17 Boys Race will start in Fish Hoek, while the shorter 42km route will depart from the city at 10am, travelling through the southern suburbs before finishing in Green Point.
First held in 1978, the Cape Town Cycle Tour has grown into one of the world’s largest timed cycling events and a fixture on the city’s sporting calendar.
Residents and motorists have been advised to plan ahead as road closures and traffic disruptions come into effect across parts of the city from Friday, intensifying on Saturday and race day.
Areas expected to be affected include the CBD, Green Point, Sea Point, the southern suburbs and the Deep South, with major routes such as Chapman’s Peak Drive, the M3, Nelson Mandela Boulevard, Victoria Road in Camps Bay and sections of Main Road through the Deep South impacted.
Several MyCiTi bus routes in the CBD and along the Hout Bay corridor will also be affected, with service deviations in place.
The build-up to the race has also renewed discussion around cyclist safety on Cape Town’s roads, an issue frequently raised by cycling groups during the busy training period ahead of the event.
City officials said law enforcement and safety personnel will be deployed along the race route to assist with traffic management and rider safety during the event.
Residents and visitors are encouraged to line the route to support riders, with several spectator-friendly locations identified along the route, including Mostert’s Mill on the M3, Jubilee Square in Simon’s Town, Noordhoek Farm Village, Hout Bay CBD, Camps Bay Main Road and the Sea Point Promenade, as well as the finish area on Helen Suzman Boulevard in Green Point.