Video: Freak winds blow cyclists off bikes at 35,000-rider sportive

Video: Freak winds blow cyclists off bikes; 35,000-rider sportive abandoned

Video: Freak winds blow cyclists off bikes; 35,000-rider sportive abandoned

These were the scenes when a 35,000-rider sportive had to be abandoned today. Riders were blown to a stop and in some cases couldn't stay on their feet or keep their bikes on the ground.

 

Video footage has captured the freakishly strong winds that forced a 35,000-rider sportive to be abandoned.

The event in South Africa was called off very early today, local time.

The Cape Town Argus Cycle Tour had gotten underway when the breezes reached speeds far in excess of 100km per hour.

Riders were blown off their bikes and some off their feet and were unable to hang onto their bikes. The organisers took what sounds like a very wise decision to abandon the event.

Also of concern to the organisers was a large fire on one section of the course.

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However, they added the winds were so high they simply made the course too dangerous.

The decision was made to cancel the event at 6.38am. By that time the huge field had assembled and some had started.

"Our priority first and foremost will always be the safety of all our participants," the organisers said in a statememt.

"And the risk of injury and potential fatality at the start, at the finish and on Chapman’s Peak warranted this extremely difficult decision.

"Furthermore, we only made the decision after endeavouring to mitigate all risks to keep the event open."

We've definitely never ridden in weather like this and we're not sure we've ever even seen wind have this impact on cyclists.

But wen ran a similar story on an event in Spain last year where the video was almost as shocking.

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The videos from South Africa

 

 

 

 

 

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