Ryan Gibbons wins the 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour by outsprinting Jaedon Terlouw (left), Ryno Scutte (hidden), and Callum Ormiston (right). Ryan Gibbons returned home, and South African cycling felt the impact. After a decade racing in Europe,the 31-year-old Fly Cool Collective rider crossed the finish line first at the 2026 Cape Town Cycle Tour, claiming the title that had long eluded him.
On Helen Suzman Boulevard in Green Point, Gibbons’ victory was a celebration of a career coming full circle. “I may have celebrated a bit early, and Jaedon [Terlouw] nearly came around me,” Gibbons admitted after the race. “But taking the victory is so special.
It’s great to be back here in South Africa, to be part of the local cycling community again. It has grown and strengthened so much in the last decade. Winning theCape Town Cycle Touris massive for any South African, and for me in particular, because it was the big South African race missing from my palmarès.” The race itself proved unpredictable.
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Gusting winds along the Southern Peninsula and multiple crashes tested every rider’s resolve. “The Cape Town Cycle Tour is the closest to a European race we get in South Africa,” third placed Ryno Schutte noted. “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.” Gibbons’ experience and his team’s strength allowed him to avoid mishaps that trapped others. Strategically, the race unfolded with tension and careful timing. With 35 kilometres left, Gibbons launched a decisive acceleration on the descent from Chapman’s Peak Drive, testing the nerves of his rivals.
“I wasn’t sure we would stay away,” he confessed. “The group was only 10 seconds behind us, so I didn’t commit completely initially, but Callum [Ormiston] was so strong. He really drove that group clear.” Once the leading quartet formed, cooperation became key.
“The four of us then worked well together to keep the chasers at bay,” Gibbons reflected. He knew the final sprint would be a delicate calculation. “In the finale, I knew I had the advantage, but the other guys knew it too, so I had to go early.” Terlouw light-hearted comment – “Ja, look, he’s Ryan Gibbons.
I knew he’d have to make a mistake for me to win, and he nearly did” – highlighted just how closely contested the finish was at the end. Gibbons’ sprint across the line was a demonstration of tactical mastery and years of European racing experience distilled into a decisive moment. Sitting up to celebrate, he captured the emotion of returning home victorious.
For Gibbons, this win was a recognition of the growth of South African cycling, and the completion of a long-missing chapter in his career. For fans and fellow riders alike, Ryan Gibbons’ performance on Sunday was a masterclass in timing, teamwork, and sheer determination.
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