Excitement for the 47th Cape Town Cycle Tour is reaching a fever pitch as the annual three-day Cape Town Cycle Tour Expo kicked off the festivities at the DHL Stadium today, and road closures slowly start taking effect.
Come this Sunday, 9 March, the Cape Town Cycle Tour will see the Mother City’s streets ‘overrun’ with over 30 000 cyclists taking part in the world’s largest timed cycle race.
And if you’re not one of them, fret not – there are still plenty of ways to catch all the action and spread some gees:
Here are 8 epic spectator spots to cheer on the cyclists:
1. Corner of Hertzog Boulevard and Adderley Street
There are few spots as epic as the starting line, where you get to witness the seemingly tangible build-up of anticipation and explosive energy as cyclists cram together, waiting for the signal before bursting onto the street when the starting time finally arrives.
In an effort to make spectator hopping as effortless and enjoyable as possible, Metrorail Western Cape will be running a special train service on race day:
All onboard ! ? This Sunday, we’re running a special train service for the @CTCycleTour ! Whether you’re riding or cheering, enjoy stunning Southern Line views as we race to the finish. Don’t miss out—let’s ride, cheer & celebrate together! ?♀️? #CTCycleTour @PRASA_Group pic.twitter.com/7szIlMS81U
— Metrorail W/Cape (@MetrorailWC) March 7, 2025
2. Edinburgh Drive and Blue Route
Paradise Road is good for watching energy-filled cyclists speed past and start the climb up Edinburgh Drive (or ‘Whineberg’ Hill as some athletes call it), which is the steepest gradient of the Tour.
If you’re keen to spot a family member or friend, then this is the best vantage point, as the cyclists slow down on the ascent. For those looking for a vibe, the City of Cape Town has added that it will be having its own spectator’s activation area on Paradise Road as well.
The bridges along the Blue Route (along the M3 past Bergvliet and Constantia) are also a crowd favourite.
3. Glencairn Beach
Muizenburg and Kalk Bay locals line the roads through their areas, and a little further along, there’s pedestrian access to the grassed area at Glencairn Beach.
4. Simon’s Town
Main Road is the next popular spectator point. Jubilee Square, where Pick n’ Pay runs the refreshment station, is a long-standing favourite and always has a great spectator atmosphere. Access will be a challenge as the roads are closed, but it is worth the walk from the nearest parking point as there is always a lot of hype.
5. Noordhoek
As riders get close to Chapman’s Peak, cyclists ride past the Noordhoek Farm Village. Locals can either access this area on foot or relax at one of the restaurants on the roadside.
6. Hout Bay and Suikerbossie
After Chapman’s Peak the route slices through Hout Bay. Walk down to Main Road (M65) and give the cyclists one last hoorah before they tackle the notorious Suikerbossie Hill. Suikerbossie comes late in the day and has a fearsome reputation. It is a great place to watch. You will need to walk a short way as there is no parking on or even near the climb itself.
7. Sea Point and Green Point for the finish
Here, the riders will come speeding past Camps Bay beachfront, before the thrills at the sharp left turn from Victoria Road into Queens Road, Sea Point. A pedestrian bridge here gives access to both sides of the road.
Lastly, there’s the Promenade and finish line in the shadow of the Cape Town Stadium, a short walk from many of the shops and eateries along Somerset Road.
8. From the comfort of your fingertips
If you’re unable to get yourself up and out in time to catch your participating family or friends, this year’s Cape Town Cycle Tour will be offering real-time race tracking with live results via the SportSplits Tracker App.
Simply download the tracking app here to track a rider.
For those hoping to spot-hop to catch their loved ones at various points of the route, this new feature forms a really cool tool to help plan out your day.
Alternatively, you can catch all the action via the Cape Town Cycle Tour’s live stream from 6am to 11pm on Sunday, 9 March, by clicking on this link on the day.
Also read:
Sun’s out, bikes out: Expect road closures for Cape Town Cycle Tour 2025
Picture: Cape Town Cycle Tour / Facebook
