Aldi Schoeman

Cape Town – The participants in this year’s Cape Argus Pick ’n Pay cycle tour can brace themselves for a brush with the Cape Doctor.

Weather forecasters are predicting that the wind will blow just as strongly in this year’s race as it did during last year’s race.

A south-easterly of between 40km/h and 55km/h is expected on the route.

“The wind speed may increase to 60km/h in places,” said Carlton Fellis of the South African Weather Service in Cape Town.

The strong wind that blew around Chapmans Peak and Camps Bay got the better of numerous cyclists last year.

David Bellair, co-director of the cycle race, said a number of people that participated last year have decided against doing it again this year because of the wind.

Last year the prediction was for wind between 35km/h and 45 km/h.

Bellair said that the wind was at its strongest in the City centre last year when cyclists had to confront wind speeds of up to 120km/h.

He hopes the Cape Doctor will be kinder to cyclists this year.