A cyclist has been confirmed dead after taking part in the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
According to organisers the participant collapsed near Smitswinkel Bay, which borders the Cape Point Reserve on the east of the peninsula.
David Bellairs the Marketing, Media and Sponsorship Director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust shared a statement on Sunday afternoon revealing the tragic news:
“It is with deep regret that the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust confirms that a participant passed away during the 2019 Cape Town Cycle Tour, after collapsing at Smitswinkel Bay. Our sincere condolences go out to his family. We are respecting the family’s wishes and not releasing any further personal details at this point.”
This year the demanding 109 km route was made all the more difficult by strong winds and adverse weather conditions that hit the Cape earlier this weekend.
Another rider is reported to have been hospitalized after coming to a stop on the Noordhoek / Chapman’s Peak section of the route.
The race officially started at 6:00 and 6:15 for the “elite” section of women and men respectively.
However, the participant who passed away was part of the amateur races which started much later.
In 2018 three people died during the Cape Town Cycle tour, including one who also had a heart attack near Smitswinkel Bay.
More: thesouthafrican