The Giro del Capo, Cape Town’s pre-eminent professional cycling race, will not take place in 2010.

This announcement was made by David Bellairs, Co-Director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, organisers of the race.

“It is a sad day for South African cycling and it is a sad day for me. I pursued all available avenues in the hope of securing a sponsor, but to no avail. We’re in the midst of an economic recession and with the World Cup around the corner, cycling sponsorships simply aren’t a priority,” said Bellairs.

First held in 1992, the Giro del Capo is an international event.
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For the past 17 years it has provided many local cyclists with their only opportunity to compete against top international cyclists.

“The Giro in its current form will not take place in 2010 as a result of the large financial burden now being imposed on organisers by the International Cycling Union (UCI) of Category 2.2 tours,” said Bellairs.

The event is referred to as the “Giro del Capo”, meaning “The Tour of the Cape” and is hosted under the auspices of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, Cycling South Africa and the UCI. The event forms part of the UCI’s African Tour.

The 2009 Giro del Capo took place over four days in March, threading through the Cape Winelands towns such as Wellington, past Tulbagh, Worcester, Franschhoek and in and around the city, over a total of about 600km.

Bellairs is confident that this will not be the last of the Giro del Capo.

“Watch this space. The Giro will be back on the international cycling calendar in 2011,” he said.

Despite the news about the Giro del Capo, preparations for the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour are going ahead.

“Again, it is hugely over-subscribed, due to its astounding popularity, and about 35 000 entries have been accepted,” said Bellairs.

“So while the Giro news is unfortunate, South Africa’s favourite cycle tour is alive and kicking.”

• This article was originally published on page 3 of Cape Argus on November 11, 2009