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Race · Road

Cape Town Cycle Tour

The Cape Town Cycle Tour is, in the organisers' words, the largest timed cycling event in the world — around 30,000 riders on a 109-kilometre lap of the Cape Peninsula each March, over Smitswinkel, past Misty Cliffs and home over Chapman's Peak and Suikerbossie.

One closed road around the Peninsula

One lap, one closed road, and the most scenic race route in world cycling: out through the southern suburbs, along the False Bay coast to Simon's Town, over Smitswinkel into the reserve side of the peninsula, through Scarborough and Misty Cliffs, then the double finale of Chapman's Peak and Suikerbossie before the run home to Green Point. The south-easter decides everything — some years it is a procession, some years a survival exercise.

If you are riding it, we can help

We are not connected to the Cycle Tour and we do not sell entries — enter through the Trust on the link above. What we can do is look after the rest of your week. Recon rides over Chapman's Peak and Suikerbossie so nothing on race day is a surprise, a road bike set up to your fit so you can fly in with shoes and a helmet, and somewhere in the Winelands to put your legs up afterwards. If you are coming from abroad for it, talk to us early and we will build the trip around your start group.

Cape Town Cycle Tour

Straight from the organiser, checked 13 August 2026. Always confirm on their own site before you plan around a date.

Organiser
Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, for the Pedal Power Association and the Rotary Club of Claremont
Next edition
Sunday 14 March 2027, the 49th running
Start and finish
Grand Parade, Cape Town CBD to the DHL Stadium precinct, Green Point
Distances
109km with 1,200m of climbing and a seven hour limit · 42km with 600m · a 78km elite women and under-17 boys race
Field
Around 30,000 riders in 2026, roughly 3,000 of them from outside South Africa
Entry
Early entry for 2027 from R700 for Pedal Power members, R940 general, R1,700 international
Status
A UCI Gran Fondo World Series qualifier since 2026. 2028 will be the 50th anniversary edition
“The ride of your life.”Cape Town Cycle Tour, in their own words

Mapmaker Collective does not organise, own or sell entries to this race. We are a Cape Town cycling tour operator who rides it, admires the people who put it on, and builds trips around it. Entries are handled entirely by the organiser on the links above.

Common questions

When is the Cape Town Cycle Tour 2027?

Sunday 14 March 2027. It is the 49th edition, and 2028 will be the 50th anniversary.

How long is the Cape Town Cycle Tour?

The main event is 109km with about 1,200m of climbing and a seven hour limit. There is also a 42km option with 600m of climbing, and a 78km elite women and under-17 boys race.

Where does the Cape Town Cycle Tour start and finish?

It starts on the Grand Parade in the Cape Town CBD and finishes in the DHL Stadium precinct in Green Point. The 42km finishes in Riebeek Street in the CBD.

How do you enter the Cape Town Cycle Tour?

Entries are handled by the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust at capetowncycletour.com. Early entry for 2027 starts at R700 for Pedal Power Association members, R940 general and R1,700 international. Mapmaker Collective does not sell entries.

Related guides

Chapman's Peak & Cape Point
The 9km toll road and the Peninsula loop
Cape Town
Guided road riding on the Peninsula
Cross-Cape
Plettenberg Bay to Cape Town
Bike hire
Specialized road, gravel and e-bikes
Ride this with Mapmaker
Small groups, expert guides, premium Specialized bikes and stays chosen like we were coming ourselves. We chart your course.