Cape Town Cycle Tour 2026

[Skubarra]

53 minutes ago, Bro Derek said:

So for me, R900 is not expensive, but it is a lot for a 109km bike ride which doesn't mean much to me in.

I certainly get your point on different people placing different values on experiences so no point trying to guilt trip you into doing the Cycle Tour 😀

But for me having access to 109km of urban roads along one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline with no traffic to contend with, only sharing the experience with other cyclists. If thats not much value to a road cyclist then I genuinely wonder why would that person even own a road bike? 🤷‍♂️

I worry a bit for the future of road events in our country - somewhere between the rising costs / red tape and apathy in the cycling community the future of events like this is not as guaranteed as one might think (there is some news about the ownership of this race in the pipeline).

I hope enough people disagree with your value assessment for a while still!

[Mamil]

It costs me entry fee only - I ride 6km from home t0 the start - I mooch away from the start to meet my S.O. on her ebikeby sneaking on to the freeway at Searle street and waiting for her start group to roll by (yes this mamil is that fast) - we ride the short one and then go have breakfast somewhere on the ride home.

MY biggest problem is do I pay the weight penalty of attaching my headlight to the bike for the ride into town.

 

[HdB]

14 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

I worry a bit for the future of road events in our country - somewhere between the rising costs / red tape and apathy in the cycling community the future of events like this is not as guaranteed as one might think (there is some news about the ownership of this race in the pipeline).

I hope enough people disagree with your value assessment for a while still!

Not even just road events - I saw Origin of Trails won't be held this year, Trans Baviaans is back down to just one weekend, etc.

(At the same time Gravel Burn is sold out, Epic seems to be sold out year after year. So perhaps there is some magic formula somewhere)

[ChrisF]

3 hours ago, HdB said:

Not even just road events - I saw Origin of Trails won't be held this year, Trans Baviaans is back down to just one weekend, etc.

(At the same time Gravel Burn is sold out, Epic seems to be sold out year after year. So perhaps there is some magic formula somewhere)

 

Jip, Trans Augrabies got cancelled in 2024.  For 2025 it was "reduced" from a three-day stage event to only 2 days.

 

In some ways this was our version of Argus for the Guatengers .... two day trip to get there, accommodation yada yada .... and like another member, this was a holiday for my wife.  Other than breakfast and one braai, we supported the local restaurant.  I 100% understand his approach to this.

 

Similarly, I also know that @Shebeen is factually correct.  

 

Facts and family holidays makes for interesting "anomalies" ....

 

 

Sorry, what was the topic again ?  CTCT 2026 .....

 

For the "average Capetonian" .... please DONT drive into town, park at CTICC, race sub-3, then race back home before lunch ....  There is a LOT MORE to CTCT !!!!

 

I owe a big thanks to the "Potch-train" for opening my eyes to how the up-country visitors experience not JUST the CTCT, but how it is truly a short holiday.  What an experience as a born and bred Capetonian to sit in the local restaurants after the event with visitors ....

 

 

@Skubarra I have cycled large portions of the CTCT route outside the day of the World Champs .... I am VERY grateful for the amazing opportunity to have the roads closed off and to able to do this free of cars.  THIS is we I do CTCT.  Heck, I have so many 100+km routes available this side of the boerie-curtain .... but there is something truly magical about CTCT .... the route .... the vibe ....

 

 

Enough of this trival stuff .... any update on the weather ?

[DieselnDust]

18 hours ago, Skubarra said:

I certainly get your point on different people placing different values on experiences so no point trying to guilt trip you into doing the Cycle Tour 😀

But for me having access to 109km of urban roads along one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline with no traffic to contend with, only sharing the experience with other cyclists. If thats not much value to a road cyclist then I genuinely wonder why would that person even own a road bike? 🤷‍♂️

I worry a bit for the future of road events in our country - somewhere between the rising costs / red tape and apathy in the cycling community the future of events like this is not as guaranteed as one might think (there is some news about the ownership of this race in the pipeline).

I hope enough people disagree with your value assessment for a while still!

I love reading the romanticized version of the Cycletour because its as disconnected from reality as Star Wars😅

If you're riding a dikwiel and stopping at every coffee shop to pick up sunday Nights date then maybe its all rose and caviar, but for most its a battle to the cramp, a wheelsuckers paradise realising dreams built on others blood sweat and tears.

it IS the Fun Ride World Champs!!!!

Edited October 3, 2025 by DieselnDust

[Jaco Steyn]

18 hours ago, Shebeen said:

@Jaco Steyn I think we've gone far enough down this road already - if it would be a dealbreaker you can come stay with me in Fish hoek for a few days - payment would be in biltong.

I’m open to this type of coercion and may just take you up on your generous offer.  My wife and I are away this coming week for my wife’s birthday. This will give me ample time to ponder about it. 

[milky4130]

13 hours ago, ChrisF said:

For the "average Capetonian" .... please DONT drive into town, park at CTICC, race sub-3, then race back home before lunch ....  There is a LOT MORE to CTCT !!!

I’ve done quite a few, 23 I think and I’ve always cycled in, do the race and then cycle back home. Just shy of 150kms round trip for the day…but then again many won’t call me “average” 🥴🤭

[ChrisF]

34 minutes ago, milky4130 said:

I’ve done quite a few, 23 I think and I’ve always cycled in, do the race and then cycle back home. Just shy of 150kms round trip for the day…but then again many won’t call me “average” 🥴🤭

 

fyn-brag on the Fiday morning

 

99er, Durbie Dash etc I also do the cycle from home to the start... about 130km days for me.  Actually a lot easier than the logistics of packing the car, driving, parking, unpacking, getting to the start ...

[The Ouzo]

On 9/30/2025 at 1:39 PM, The Ouzo said:

Affordability is relative. This year I did it as cheap as I could, even my 1 night accommodation was gifted to me, and it still cost a fair bit (flights, ubers and food) based on my income at the time.

I've just spent the last 2 months with zero income, so even the entry fee for the race is out of reach this time around (first time in 27 years that I have not entered).

So you can argue it from different angles, but lets face it, even the R900 entry fee, whilst in theory going to a good cause, is on the steep side.

 

having said the above, should my finances change, I will be making some sort of plan to enter and ride.

So it turns out I’ve already entered. I must have grabbed one of the early bird entries at the beginning of the year. 
 

went to the entry portal now to check, because when you get to my age you forget if you’ve had breakfast or not, let alone what you did 6 months ago. 
Entry page states entry is paid for and no further changes allowed. 
 

now to see which limbs and internal organs I can do without and start selling them. 

[Thomo]

11 minutes ago, The Ouzo said:

So it turns out I’ve already entered. I must have grabbed one of the early bird entries at the beginning of the year. 
 

went to the entry portal now to check, because when you get to my age you forget if you’ve had breakfast or not, let alone what you did 6 months ago. 
Entry page states entry is paid for and no further changes allowed. 
 

now to see which limbs and internal organs I can do without and start selling them. 

For me it was the opposite ... thought I had entered but upon checking turns out I didn't.

This getting older is becoming more and more challenging.! 🙈

[Hilton.]

4 hours ago, The Ouzo said:

So it turns out I’ve already entered. I must have grabbed one of the early bird entries at the beginning of the year. 
 

went to the entry portal now to check, because when you get to my age you forget if you’ve had breakfast or not, let alone what you did 6 months ago. 
Entry page states entry is paid for and no further changes allowed. 
 

now to see which limbs and internal organs I can do without and start selling them. 

Just make sure this was for 2026 - I did the same thing, to check if I've entered already. I almost fell off my chair when it said I'm already paid and entered. But then I saw that was for 2025 🧐

When I try enter now, I get the message: "General entries for 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour will be opening soon."

[ChrisF]

44 minutes ago, Hilton. said:

Just make sure this was for 2026 - I did the same thing, to check if I've entered already. I almost fell off my chair when it said I'm already paid and entered. But then I saw that was for 2025 🧐

When I try enter now, I get the message: "General entries for 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour will be opening soon."

 

Those that did the early entry will have 2 emails confirming this, dated around 16 to 20 March 2025.

 

 

 

Jip, ja ... also had to check .... 😋

[babse]

On 10/3/2025 at 5:43 AM, milky4130 said:

I’ve done quite a few, 23 I think and I’ve always cycled in, do the race and then cycle back home. Just shy of 150kms round trip for the day…but then again many won’t call me “average” 🥴🤭

Average at best...

 

😜

[Prince Albert Cycles]

7 hours ago, Thomo said:

For me it was the opposite ... thought I had entered but upon checking turns out I didn't.

This getting older is becoming more and more challenging.! 🙈

Getting old is not for sissies . Ask me 

[Charles71]

My 2026 CT goal is to get close to a sub 3. This year I did a 4:03 from 4A, so prep for 2026 starts with a goal to improve seeding by racing the Durbie Dash. 

[The Ouzo]

16 hours ago, Hilton. said:

Just make sure this was for 2026 - I did the same thing, to check if I've entered already. I almost fell off my chair when it said I'm already paid and entered. But then I saw that was for 2025 🧐

When I try enter now, I get the message: "General entries for 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour will be opening soon."

damn you're right, just checked again. it was for 2025. oops.