Cycle Tour goes red

Published Mar 6, 2015

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Cape Town - The scarlet of the flames that encircled the South Peninsula has been adopted by top riders and celebrities for this year’s Cape Town Cycle Tour – and they are encouraging everyone to do the same.

It’s a Cape Argus initiative launched for riders and cycling fans to show their solidarity with firefighters who have spent the past week battling the blazes, and with those who lost their homes and possessions in the wildfires.

And the fires are not yet out. A new fire has broken out in the Cape Point Nature Reserve, threatening four holiday houses in Brightwaters, while a strengthening south-easter has caused hot spots above Muizenberg to flare up again.

Cycle Tour veteran and champion Anriette Schoeman said her 47km ride on Sunday – in red – would be for the firefighters.

“This weekend is not for us, it’s for those men and women who risked their lives day in and day out this past week. Those guys are all heroes.”

And she said 2015 would be one of the most memorable Cycle Tours.

“In 20 or 50 years people will still be talking about this ride. This is a chance for people to be part of something unique.”

The Cycle Tour, sponsored by the Cape Argus, Pick n Pay and Momentum, was shortened after major portions of the route through the South Peninsula mountains were declared unsafe in the aftermath of a fire that started in the mountains above Muizenberg on Sunday.

The new 47km route, which loops from Cape Town along the Blue Route to Westlake and back, has been dubbed the “#ShowYouCareSolidarityRide”.

Defending Cycle Tour champion Cherise Stander said she would be in red on race day. “People’s lives have been drastically altered and here we get a chance to show we are standing together,” she said of the Go Red initiative.

KFM DJ Ryan O’Connor jumped at the chance to be involved.

“What I’ve seen during this fire is incredible. I’ve seen people come from as far as George to chip in.”

Radio personality and model Liezel van der Westhuizen said riding past the scorched landscapes would be a sobering experience. “I challenge everyone to wear red on the day.”

Western Cape Tourism MEC Alan Winde said the wearing of red on Sunday would be a fitting tribute to those who had worked tirelessly to save houses, animals and natural vegetation, and on Sunday “the 35 000 riders will be saluting our local heroes”.

Argus editor Gasant Abarder said: “By wearing red we’re paying tribute to the outstanding efforts by firefighters, volunteers and members of the public who gave so generously this week.”

Meanwhile, city Fire an Rescue spokesman Theo Layne said the rising wind had fed new flare-ups in the mountain, and there was concern about the fire at Cape Point which was racing towards Olifantsbos.

About 32 firefighters had been dispatched with eight fire vehicles, four fire engines, four water tankers and three helicopter water bombings.

Layne said firefighters were doing all they could to save the four privately owned houses at Brightwaters.

SANPark’s Fire and Technical Services manager Philip Prins said the overnight cottage at Olifantsbos was also under threat. He had put out a request to Fire and Rescue to deploy a crew to the area. “The wind is strong, making it very difficult for us; we are stretched at the moment.”

Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said ground crews continued to manage the situation in Constantia, Clovelly and Boyes Drive, between Lakeside and Kalk Bay.

* The Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust has opened a bank account to donate funds to the firefighters battling the South Peninsula fires.

Donations will be shared between the Volunteer Wildfire Services andSANParks.

Account holder: Event Entry Admin.

Bank: Nedbank.

Branch: Rondebosch (123209).

Account number: 1232144355.

Account Type: Cheque.

Cape Argus

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