Cape Town Cycle Tour 2026

[ChrisF]

https://www.facebook.com/share/1R3iaaGjhQ/

[love2fly]

On 2/17/2026 at 7:18 PM, Dexter-morgan said:

Its my first time doing this, is 6:42 a good starting time?

In my first Argus, and my first ever bike race, in 1999 my start time if I recall correctly was 09:50.......almost lunch time

Edited February 22 by love2fly

[Wannabe]

With the 48th CTCT just more than a week away, the chatter/buildup of this year's event are eerily slow. Has this Jewel in the Crown of SA cycling loose that much appeal?

I'm doing my 21st (and probably last) on the 8th, and I am not as exited or nervous as I had been on all my previous races. 

What say you?

 

[DieselnDust]

1 minute ago, Wannabe said:

With the 48th CTCT just more than a week away, the chatter/buildup of this year's event are eerily slow. Has this Jewel in the Crown of SA cycling loose that much appeal?

I'm doing my 21st (and probably last) on the 8th, and I am not as exited or nervous as I had been on all my previous races. 

What say you?

 

its just another race for me.

no lustre. Its not special anylonger despite the full road closure. The whole vibe is just gone

[Mamil]

2 minutes ago, Wannabe said:

With the 48th CTCT just more than a week away, the chatter/buildup of this year's event are eerily slow. Has this Jewel in the Crown of SA cycling loose that much appeal?

I'm doing my 21st (and probably last) on the 8th, and I am not as exited or nervous as I had been on all my previous races. 

What say you?

 

Also feeling this way - might be because I'm less fit than I have been for the last 5 years and have my lowest seeding in as long - maybe its age but I'm also getting more scared of the bunch and found myself thinking "Maybe I'll wake up on the day and just go mountain biking in Durbanville".

[BuffsVintageBikes]

I just think it's died down here, the whatsapp groups are very much alive with chatter about the big day 👍

[cadenceblur]

this is all quite concerning, any insight into the waning interest or excitement?

@Wannabe - why is this your last?

[Michael S]

Wait until we can see the 10 day weather look ahead

[DieselnDust]

SE forecast at this point in time, and a fairly brisk one at that

[Mamil]

46 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

SE forecast at this point in time, and a fairly brisk one at that

Normally I'm going on an on about how I'm aiming for my virgin sub 3 --- not n the cards this year so I'm hoping for bad weather

[Wannabe]

1 hour ago, cadenceblur said:

this is all quite concerning, any insight into the waning interest or excitement?

@Wannabe - why is this your last?

I wanted to do 21 consecutively and then call it quits. I lost three years in between with the two cancelled races and my back operation in '24. This year I will reach my goal of doing 21 races.

Reason that it probably will be my last is simply that it became too expensive, I have lost my appetite for racing, and it is too dangerous on the roads in the few months leading up to the CTCT due to the volume of people training on the roads, and the motorists on the congested roads that are becoming less tolerant towards us.

Training indoors does not really appeal to me, but I am forcing myself to spend more time on the trainer than on the roads, purely for self-preservation. As a result, I am not as fit and well prepared as I was in years past. I like to cycle because I enjoy it, and it is not the case anymore.

I'm spending more time on the gravel roads and trails in the months from March to December than on the roads, as I prefer the solitude to being on the alert all the time for cars trying to kill you, or possible bikejackers.

Edited February 25 by Wannabe
Spelling

[BuffsVintageBikes]

I'm riding with the missus and although she's on an ebike, her fitness isn't where it should be at this time of the year, so I'm under no pressure. It'll be a chilled ride with coffee and pastries in Noordhoek, whatever the weather, very much like last years event.

Once I got my 21 tours under the belt, I decided that all future CTCT's would be done purely to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful Cape on closed roads. That in itself is a rare privilege which we pay good money for.

 

[cadenceblur]

Ah, understandable. Valid points i guess! 

[The Ouzo]

32 minutes ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

Once I got my 21 tours under the belt, I decided that all future CTCT's would be done purely to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful Cape on closed roads. That in itself is a rare privilege which we pay good money for.

Same, i did no 21 last year, was looking forward to cruising the peninsula in my club 21 kit this year.

but alas, for the first time since 1999 I've not been able to enter the event, should hopefully be back next year though.

[Mamil]

34 minutes ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

I'm riding with the missus and although she's on an ebike, her fitness isn't where it should be at this time of the year, so I'm under no pressure. It'll be a chilled ride with coffee and pastries in Noordhoek, whatever the weather, very much like last years event.

Once I got my 21 tours under the belt, I decided that all future CTCT's would be done purely to enjoy and appreciate the beautiful Cape on closed roads. That in itself is a rare privilege which we pay good money for.

 

I'm also seriously considering this approach - dropping back to 4G or something similar and noodling around enjoying the vibe - last few years I've raced back to the M3 to join my S.O. on the short route but she's away this year so that's not going to happen. I'll decide on the morning

[The Ouzo]

3 minutes ago, Mamil said:

I'm also seriously considering this approach - dropping back to 4G or something similar and noodling around enjoying the vibe - last few years I've raced back to the M3 to join my S.O. on the short route but she's away this year so that's not going to happen. I'll decide on the morning

there is something different about dropping back and riding slower than you'd normally ride, especially when you're fitter than those around you.

You get to enjoy more and if you're so inclined, help other along the way.

I did it a couple years back when it rained and it ranks as one of my most enjoyable CTCTs