Ryan Gibbons wins the 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour after a decade in Europe
Ryan Gibbons celebrates as he crosses the finish line on Helen Suzman Boulevard in Green Point to win the 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour.
Image: Tobias Ginsberg/ Cape Town Cycle Tour
After a decade racing professionally in Europe, South African cyclist Ryan Gibbons returned home and finally claimed the one local title that had eluded him, sprinting to victory in the 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour in Cape Town on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Fly Cool Collective rider powered across the finish line on Helen Suzman Boulevard in Green Point in 2:33:06, narrowly edging Toyota Specialized Imbuko’s Jaedon Terlouw in a tightly contested sprint. Nessa’s Ryno Schutte finished third, crossing the line a second later and taking the honours as the first under-23 rider home.
For Gibbons, the victory marked the culmination of a homecoming season after years competing on European roads. His return to South African racing began with a team victory at the Double Century in November 2025, culminating in victory in the 48th edition of the race.
“But taking the victory is so special,” Gibbons said after the finish. “It’s great to be back here in South Africa, to be part of the local cycling community again. Winning the Cape Town Cycle Tour is massive for any South African, and for me in particular because it was the big South African race missing from my palmarès.”
The elite men’s race around the 109km route proved chaotic at times, with gusting crosswinds in the Southern Peninsula and several crashes disrupting the peloton.
Marc Pritzen and Lood Goosen were among the riders caught up in incidents. Pritzen’s chain dropped while the peloton was chasing a breakaway including Daniel Loubser, Wynand Hofmeyr and Herman Fouche. After fighting his way back to the group, he later became caught behind another crash. Goosen also hit the deck but was able to continue.
“The Cape Town Cycle Tour is the closest to a European race we get in South Africa,” Schutte said. “The group is so big, and positioning is really difficult. You have to fight to be in the front 10% all the time, or risk getting caught up in crashes.”
Despite the tough conditions, the field remained largely intact over Chapman’s Peak Drive before the decisive moment came later in the race.
With about 35km remaining, Gibbons accelerated on the descent towards Hout Bay, testing his rivals in gusting winds. Sascha Weber attacked in Hout Bay before Callum Ormiston reeled him in as the race crested Suikerbossie. Gibbons, Terlouw and Schutte joined Ormiston to form the leading group.
“The four of us then worked well together to keep the chasers at bay,” Gibbons said.
“In the finale, I knew I had the advantage, but the other guys knew it too, so I had to go early.”
Gibbons’ powerful sprint allowed him to celebrate as he crossed the line just ahead of Terlouw. Schutte finished third, while Ormiston took fourth place. Alex Miller claimed fifth with an attack 800 metres from the finish.
Earlier in the day, Lisa Bone claimed victory in the women’s elite race after sprinting to the line ahead of Russia’s Daria Pravilova and American Kate Courtney. Bone completed the 78km race in 2:06:26 to secure the women’s title.
The Cape Town Cycle Tour remains one of Cape Town’s flagship sporting events, drawing thousands of participants each year as riders tackle the scenic but demanding route around the peninsula. The event also delivers a significant boost to the local economy, with organisers estimating it injects more than R500 million into the Western Cape through tourism, hospitality and related industries.
Top five results – Elite men
Ryan Gibbons (Fly Cool Collective) – 2:33:06
Jaedon Terlouw (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) – same time
Ryno Schutte (Nessa) – +1 second (U23)
Callum Ormiston (Joyrun & Hurricane) – +2 seconds
Alex Miller (Swatt Cycling) – +35 seconds