Cape Town Cycle Tour 2017 cancelled

The organisers to comply would have to complete massive risk and contingency plans. riots and protest action form part of that. Then they have a trigger that sets off a certain contingency plan. So no last minute plans are made, only last minute decisions. Unfortunately, hosting an event with 30 000 plus participants requiring 108km, your contingencies are extremely limited. 

Total BS and weak planning. Need to have more rigorous plans for a big event...too many last minute decisions just points to inexperience.

Please tell us what decision you would have taken given all the circumstances this morning.  Please also tell us why this is "weak planning".

in winter..... thats going to end well.

I agree FCH. Standing in the wind and rain driven by a cold frontal system, cold and dark for another hr and half seems less apealing than this mornings chaos.

Lets be honest. Once or twice over 40 years? Is that really so bad? The protest action is of more concern as this could escalate year on year.

Seems the organisers were a bit ambushed on this one. I'm sure next year the city & organisers will put steps in place to avoid this happening going forward

They shouldn't have been, most large sport events should be prepared for acts of terrorism, i.e."the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims."

In this context, we can't simply call it protesting, even if we sympathise with the grievance, which in this case apparantly was about land, not the loss homes due to fires in Hout Bay.

western cape have been under fire since November last year; very likely a large chunk of the fires have been started deliberately over the course of the last few months. They seem to appear in sets of 3 or 4 on the exact same day spread all over....

Just a question: were any of the fires (yesterday's, or today's in Houtbay) deliberately ostarted?

If so, I'll bet that there will be more fires next year, and at Oceans time...

Yes, we do however believe that participating in this event is showing compassion. And maybe that message is not getting to the communities. And we all trust that the PPA is getting the money to the charities.

 

And not all of us participating are this fortunate either to be able to sip on expensive beer. On the way back, I saw a bloke driving back to the Cape Flats in his busted old Passat, with a cheapy MTB strapped to the back of the car. He probably saved all year last year to be able to afford the entry fee. I am already over my disappointment. I am not sure how that poor bloke will handle it.

The real money is not in the entry fees. 

It is in all the other expenses of the people visiting:

Accommodation, dining out, coffee shops, etc

And seeing as many of the poorer people are employed in the service industry, it directly affects them.

Please tell us what decision you would have taken given all the circumstances this morning.  Please also tell us why this is "weak planning".

Hi Shell Belle

The problem with keyboard warriors is they wont engage in discussion. And if they do, no amount of logic or reason helps. So rather let it slide. We all know what they (organisers) did was a good one under the circumstances.

western cape have been under fire since November last year; very likely a large chunk of the fires have been started deliberately over the course of the last few months. They seem to appear in sets of 3 or 4 on the exact same day spread all over....

Best way to stretch resources. If your plan (for whatever reason???) is that the fires are not put out in a hurry then that's the way to do it.

Just for the record - I rode 2009 - strongest wind recorded was 60km/hr - this morning the stongest recorded was 100km/hr - good decision to cancel the race - it would have been carnage out there

It felt worse than 2009 for me...

It felt worse than 2009 for me...

but your boom boom didnt start

I'm in agriculture, and there are fires starting in the most random places, most of them in locations where trucks cant easily access.

Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington, Overberg- literally a weekly thing.

Best way to stretch resources. If your plan (for whatever reason???) is that the fires are not put out in a hurry then that's the way to do it.

Not 100% sure if this was today - truck blown over by the gusts.

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Pretty sure that is last year.

Hi Shell Belle

 

The problem with keyboard warriors is they wont engage in discussion. And if they do, no amount of logic or reason helps. So rather let it slide. We all know what they (organisers) did was a good one under the circumstances.

Lots of comments but no solutions???

Lots of comments but no solutions???

and your solutions are?

and your solutions are?

As I said.

It was the right call. Granted I'm upset it would have been my first CTCT, I use the Argus route for my rides on the weekend and do ride in the wind but after the race was cancelled I went out and did a ride to Simonstown.

The wind is hectic, I lost a layer of skin going through Glencairn and got moved around by the wind a bit. I can only imagine what the crosswinds on the top of hospital bend, down Chappies and the top of the bossie would be like. Now add a bunch of people who only go and ride when there is no wind and people who haven't ridden the route before and carnage would ensue.

Then add all the other stuff happening, protests and fires and you have a recipe for disaster.

Some say plan better and need better contingencies, are you expecting the organisers to screen riders to see if they can handle the wind? Say only the pro's and top seeded okes can start and you have an outcry.

With the protests, move the route, some one will get wind of it and a protest is easy to move you can find bricks, bins and move tyres anywhere along a route quickly.

With the fires, how about putting all your eggs and one basket and allocating all Emergency services to the fire to try and put it out quickly, what happens if another starts how quickly can you move resources with half the 'burbs main roads closed?

As much as I would have liked to have had a CTCT under my belt I can sympathise with the organisers, but IMHO they did the right thing.

Imagine having people seriously injured or god forbid die having an off on Chappies. Then everyone would be up in arms because the organisers should have stopped the race, or getting a brick lobbed at a cyclist going 60km/h.

Its a no win situation.

Anyway have a lekker day the wife and I are going for lunch.

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You're the one moaning about bad planning etc.... we can only assume you already have a solution as well.....

Lots of comments but no solutions???

Lots of comments but no solutions???

It's not as simple as you think... in "Hindsight" solutions come up... but that's only because one had time to sit and think about all the scenarios and what the best one is that could have been chosen.... if you have a better solution than the one taken today... please share, bear in mind, considering ALL the issues around the route (including the wind factor) and a contingency plan put in place for your alternate route!

#it'snotthatsimple

Total BS and weak planning. Need to have more rigorous plans for a big event...too many last minute decisions just points to inexperience.

" For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible"

" For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible"

Quote of the day ⭐️

As I said.

nothing

Quote of the day ⭐️

Awesome quote....converse applies to.

I will gladly be part of the organisation for the next CTCT.

Awesome quote....converse applies to.

 

I will gladly be part of the organisation for the next CTCT.

Anyhow, enjoy the rest of the day guys.

I think there should be meetings with "rural/informal settlement" leaders.

I know the wind was a major factor and the fire made it difficult for emergancy services.

We have had a lot of success talking to some of the leaders where we live regarding strikes, claims ect