Blowin’ in the wind: Bike race canceled over heavy gusts (VIDEOS)
Cyclists in the South African city of Cape Town were thrown around in the wind as heavy gusts brought an early end to a race. Video from the Cape Town Cycle Tour shows the wind lifting bikes off the road and stopping cyclists dead in their tracks.
Gusts of over 100kph prevented the Cape Town Cycle Tour from being completed safely, forcing organizers to call a halt to proceedings, reported the Times. Some 35,000 cyclists are estimated to have taken part in the event, including many from outside South Africa. The news may have been met with disappointment, but given their bikes were made for the road and not the skies it was probably for the best.
Cape Town 40th Cycle Tour cancelled due to extreme winds. #CapeTown#CapeArguspic.twitter.com/mVRhzvXNwA
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) March 12, 2017
#CycleTour2017 ➡️ Wind is well decide for yourself @CTCycleTourpic.twitter.com/waLQ1SXlez
— #PierreDuPlooy (@duplooypierre) March 12, 2017
Footage of the race shows cyclists coming to an abrupt halt when the winds suddenly meet them head on, forcing most to dismount their bikes and use their own bodies to prevent the bicycles taking flight.
#CapeTownCycleTour#Stopped!!! Thank You to The Organization for Donating all food & drink parcels to those who lost everything in the fire🙏 pic.twitter.com/tPh4UfgiSw
— #TheBookOfChad (@NormaMansoor) March 13, 2017
check what the wind was doing to me at the start! #CycleTour2017pic.twitter.com/P5mw1Z1WEp
— Siv Ngesi (@iamSivN) March 12, 2017
Along with the winds, which organizers described as “considerably higher than predicted,” a nearby fire and a protest on the cycle route also contributed to the cancellation, according to organizers.
Two UK cyclists who traveled for the event said they wouldn’t be refunded for the cancelation.
“We booked it last April‚ so it's a little disappointing‚ but I'm glad I'm not cycling in that wind‚” Caroline Robinson told the Times.
