The weather forecast had already predicted a hot day, whereupon the organizers of the Cape Epic 2025 shortened the route of the third stage by twelve kilometers from 90 to 78 kilometers. In doing so, they wanted to reduce the risk of heat stress for the 1437 participants still in the race. When temperatures rose to over 40 degrees Celsius in the late morning, the organizers extended the finish time by one hour to 16:50 to accommodate the numerous teams still on the course.

While the professionals were able to recover after around three hours, things got serious for many other participants. Heat-related illnesses were reported and riders reported that their GPS devices were showing temperatures of over 50 degrees Celsius. As a result, the organizers decided in the afternoon not to let the riders ride to the finish after the third feed zone at kilometer 66.

However, this decision is said to have come too late for three participants - they died at the side of the course. This was reported by the Austrian newspaper "Kleine Zeitung", which is not always known for serious journalism, citing information from René Haselbacher, who himself has a team at the start.

Warning after misinterpretations

You don't need to be a doctor to understand that extreme heat can have a severe impact on people - especially participants in such a demanding race. Riders who lay exhausted or crashed at the side of the course may have been perceived as lifeless by other participants who were also badly affected. Unfiltered, the news of alleged deaths spread.

Now the organizers have also denied the deaths among the participants. The Cape Epic organizers reacted appropriately to the extreme heat with the decision to start the stage earlier, to equip the feed stations with sufficient water and ice and to stop the race at the back of the field of riders - without covering anything up.

Wording of the statement from the organizers: "There were no fatal accidents involving riders during this year's race. The number of retirements on the course was in line with previous years, with a few riders having to be transported to hospital for further observation and treatment."