05-08-2025
Save the rhino… but what about the road cyclist?
Save the rhino… but what about the road cyclist?
Yes, save the rhino, but don't forget about another endangered species, South Africa's road cyclists. While road cycling is flourishing in Africa and the world championships are being held in Rwanda later this year, road cycling is dying a silent death in South Africa.
Several cycling races have been cancelled in the past year, including the Kremetart, Jock, Panorama tour and Emperors Palace, which were postponed.
The race in Rwanda will be the first UCI Road World Championships in Africa.
The country couldn't get enough of the then Rapport tour, with the duel between Alan van Heerden and Robbie McIntosh a highlight on the sports calendar.
Cycling in South Africa was big.
The Middelburg Observer spoke to various stakeholders in cycling circles over the past month, and everyone agrees that road cycling is in danger.
There are five main reasons…
The deterioration of the country's road network.
Local and provincial authorities make it almost impossible to host races.
Cycling South Africa does 'little or nothing' for road cyclists.
Safety on roads with motorists who have no respect for cyclists.
The rise of mountain bikes and gravel bike racing.
Roads
The Kremetart cycle race was the only one-day four-stage race in the country and was to be held at Makhado.
One of the stages was located on the Vivo national road, but the section was left scraped up by the contractor. It was impossible to host the race.
After the passing of cycling legend Hendrik Wagener on July 14 last year, a day after the last Jock, it was the end of the Jock and Panorama tours.
Ironically, Mpumalanga was a cycling paradise with top cyclists, such as Ertjies Bezuidenhout, who had been in action in the province several times.
Authorities
Race organisers say they are in the process of throwing in the towel with local and provincial authorities, who are demanding thousands of rands before roads can be used.
The Emperors race had to be cancelled earlier this year due to the metro traffic department's strike.
Cycling South Africa
The country's leading cycling writer, Colin Hoffman, said bluntly that Cycling South Africa is doing nothing for the sport. Pay before you pedal, and what happens to the money?
During last year's RideJoburg, participants in the racing category were forced to pay their fees to Cycling South Africa before they were allocated numbers. One participant was so furious that he wanted to punch an elderly woman, who was helping with registration, in the face.
Safety
The long-time commissaire, Rudi van Wyk, said it is clear that motorists do not respect road cyclists and often drive as close as possible to them, which is very dangerous.
Rower and cyclist Kerry Grundlingh (27) was hit by a car and killed in Johannesburg a fortnight ago. She represented South Africa at the World Rowing Championships.
Mountain and gravel bikes
No government fees, the freedom to ride in nature, and safety are making cyclists switch to mountain and gravel bikes.
However, it is not only road cycling that is on the list of extinction, but also track cycling.
'Track cycling is basically at its end. The Velodrome in Bellville seems to me to be doomed. And if this one falls, it is the end of track cycling in the country. The rest of the tracks are in a terrible condition, and of the 32 we had in 1989, only seven remain.'
One of the tracks that has fallen into disrepair is outside Middelburg on the Duvha road. An excellent track with top facilities that stands unused and dilapidated. A story on that will follow later.
However, all is not lost.
There are people like Wynand de Villiers who present various races in the country and are busy organising a five-day tour from Wellington next year.
Lenie Smit of Lenrick Promotions is also trying her best to keep road cycling racing going and is hosting her popular Rooiwal Women's Day race on Saturday.
Another big campaigner for road bikes is Eduard Prinsloo of Pretoria Cycling Club, who has also recently been hosting safe races at Rooiwal.
Read a follow-up about the comments of the various role players on road bikes, including Danie Botha, the president of Mpumalanga Cycling, who shares big news about a possible race in 2026.
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