Rider's Guide to the Cape Town Cycle Tour 109km 13+ 2026

Under clause 2 of the race entry terms:

• Helmet: every rider must wear a bicycle helmet with the strap securely fastened under the chin (clause 2.3).
• Bike: only a human-powered bike, or an e-bike entered in the E-bike category, may be ridden (clause 2.1).
• No triathlon, time trial or "Spinaci"-type bars. The organisers may also ban certain bladed wheels they consider unsafe (clause 2.9).
• No music or radios: you may not use a personal music system or a radio communication device, including a cellphone, while riding. The only exception is professional team members using radios under UCI rules (clause 2.12).
• Kit: wear clothing appropriate for a family event, and don't display any offensive writing or logo on your bike, clothing or equipment (clauses 2.16 and 2.30).

Pack for the start: your race number, number board, timing board and helmet. The Grand Parade start area is exposed, so the organisers suggest a lightweight gilet even when the breeze is light. Last-minute bike repairs are available near the info tents in the start precinct.

The Cape Town Cycle Tour uses three numbering items. Don't leave home without them, or your helmet.

Timing board rules (clauses 2.13 to 2.14):

• You must ride with the official timing board issued with your race number. You can't start without one.
• If you need a replacement, you can buy one for R150 at the info tents or from roaming representatives in the start precinct.
• Never ride with another rider's number or timing board, or give yours to someone else.

At the finish: keep moving once you've crossed the line. Bikes aren't allowed in the Finish Village, so use the bike park at the Green Point Cricket Fields.

Riders start in start groups, each with its own start time. Your group letter is your race number prefix. Your official start time for the 7-hour limit is your group's start time, and starting before your designated time can mean disqualification.

2026 start groups (summary of the published schedule):

The organisers set the groups and publish the start times before each event. They may also seed e-bike riders into a group using their own criteria.

The women's elite and U17 boys' race uses a separate 78km route starting in Fish Hoek.

Time limit (entry terms clause 2.11): to get a result and a finishing certificate, you must finish the 109km within 7 hours of your start group's official start time, unless the organisers decide otherwise.

Cut-off points: cut-offs are set for safety and in line with City of Cape Town requirements. If you reach a cut-off point at or after its time, you won't be allowed to continue. You and your bike will be taken to the finish at Green Point on a sweep bus, which drops riders in the A-track parking opposite McDonald's.

The published cut-off times:

The organisers publish the cut-off times and locations on the event website before each edition, and they can change from year to year.

Under clause 2 of the race entry terms, every rider must:

• ride carefully, with due regard for other cyclists, other road users and spectators, and keep proper control of their bike;
• keep as far left on the road as is safe;
• obey marshals and traffic officers immediately, and give marshals any event information they ask for;
• after a collision or incident, give their name and address to a marshal or to any rider who asks;
• give reasonable help to any rider involved in an accident;
• ride the full course or retire. A rider who doesn't complete the course must not cross the finish line or the timing mats at the finish.

Riders may not:

• start before their designated start time, which can mean disqualification;
• receive help to complete the course, other than drafting behind other Cycle Tour riders. The Trust may allow minor pushing but never towing, except for special entries for disabled riders;
• accept a slipstream, push or tow from an e-bike rider;
• ride the course in reverse, even after finishing, or ride it a second time without the organiser's permission;
• litter, except in bins and designated chuck zones, or smoke anywhere on the route;
• use foul language or offensive gestures, wear clothing unsuitable for a family event, or display offensive writing or logos;
• ride under the influence of alcohol or any drug or medication that might affect their control of the bike. Any rider may be tested for alcohol or drugs after an accident.

Racing groups: riders in the Elite Men, Ladies, U17 and Veteran racing groups must also follow UCI rules. Anyone competing for podium places and prize money is subject to Cycling South Africa and UCI regulations.

Reasonable medical or emergency evacuation costs incurred for you are your cost.

Under the race entry terms (clause 6):

• Bad weather: the Cape Town Cycle Tour goes ahead regardless of bad weather. It will only be cancelled, re-routed or stopped as a reasonable safety precaution (clause 6.5).
• Causes beyond the organiser's control, including storm, fire, flood, epidemic or other natural disaster, strikes, unrest, power or water interruptions, or government action: if the tour is cancelled or delayed for any of these, entry fees aren't refundable, unless the Trustees agree otherwise in writing (clause 6.4).
• Cancellation or postponement for health and safety protocols or other extreme circumstances: the refund depends on how close to the event it happens. It falls from 90% if early, to nothing in the final month before the event (clause 6.1). The exact cut-off dates are set for each edition.
• The route: the City of Cape Town gives the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust exclusive use of the road space for the event. The Trust controls the route until the City's traffic department reopens the roads (clause 2.11).

On the day, obey every instruction from marshals and traffic officers immediately (clause 2.4).

Yes, but only if you enter in the E-bike category and your bike meets all the requirements (entry terms clause 3).

Entry: select the E-bike category when you enter online. If you don't, you won't be allowed to ride an e-bike. Anyone who rides an e-bike without entering as an e-bike participant is disqualified from this and future Cycle Tours.

Your e-bike must:

• weigh less than 30 kg;
• look like a bicycle, with pedals as the main way of propelling it;
• have an electric motor of no more than 250 W maximum continuous rated power;
• assist only while you are pedalling, with the assistance reducing and cutting off by 25 km/h (no permanently powered bikes);
• have a control that limits the maximum powered speed to 25 km/h;
• carry all the safety equipment South African road traffic law requires or recommends for pedal cycles.

Other e-bike rules:

• Don't start before your designated start slot. If you do, you are disqualified immediately.
• E-bike riders can't win prizes. E-bike results are marked as such and can't be used for seeding at other events.
• The fastest allowed time on an e-bike is 3 h 50 min for the 109km. Faster times are disqualified.
• You may not give other riders a slipstream, a push or a tow, and other riders may not accept that help from you.
• The organisers may seed e-bike riders into a group using criteria set by the Trust.

Under clause 5 of the Cape Town Cycle Tour race entry terms:

Penalties:

• A trustee of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, or anyone the Trust authorises, may disqualify you or impose another penalty summarily, without a hearing, at any time.
• Other penalties are a fine of up to R1,000, a time penalty, or a ban from future Cycle Tours.
• By entering, you consent to your name and number being published, including online, if you are disqualified or sanctioned.
• If a marshal tells you that your conduct may lead to disqualification, you must stop immediately (clause 2.31).

Challenging a disqualification:

• Ask the Trust in writing within 3 days of being told, requesting reinstatement. You can add information later if you receive it.
• A tribunal considers the request. It may take no action, reinstate you, ask for more information, or impose further penalties, including a fine of up to R1,000 or a recommendation that you be barred from future tours.
• A breach must be proven to the tribunal's "comfortable satisfaction". Timing data, video and official photographs can be used as evidence. You may not have legal representation unless the chair allows it.
• Appeal the tribunal's decision to the Trustees in writing within 3 days.
• For penalties other than disqualification, a trustee considers your representations and decides whether the penalty stands or goes to a hearing. That decision is final.

If you are disqualified, you must return any prize you were awarded.

Yes, through the official substitution process:

1. The withdrawing rider logs into their Cape Town Cycle Tour profile and clicks "allow substitution". This releases the entry.
2. The substitute needs a signed letter of consent from the withdrawing rider, including that rider's name and ID number.
3. The substitute pays a substitution fee of R200 per person, by credit card only (no EFT).
4. The substitute collects the race number at the counter for their start group at the Cycle Tour Expo.

Tandems: you can enter your tandem partner at the same time as yourself if there is a cancellation for your partner too. If your partner is already entered, add their details to your consent letter so the two of you are linked as a tandem entry.

Rules (entry terms clause 6.3):

• You may ask the substitute to pay you back, but not more than you originally paid.
• If the correct procedure isn't followed and the substitute is found riding illegally, both of you could be sanctioned.
• You must never give your number or timing board to someone else to use (clause 2.14).