The Cape Town Cycle Tour 2025 is making skin health a priority, with the iconic sporting event offering 1500-2000 participants a free screening for melanoma. With this news, we look at how you can take care of your skin while you’re riding your bicycle.
Skin health awareness drive at Cycle Tour 2025
The Cape Town Cycle Tour has launched the melanoma and skin health awareness initiative in memory of deceased cyclist Tim Brink who died of cancer in 2024. “His battle began with a melanoma, which was only diagnosed after it had spread to surrounding areas” said Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust Director, David Bellairs, in a statement.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, who is one of the spearheading parties, said: “This initiative is dedicated to the memory of Tim Brink, beloved editor of Bicycling Magazine and a respected figure in South Africa’s cycling community, whose battle with melanoma has become a powerful inspiration for us to take action and protect others. This is a movement that redefines how we tackle skin cancer prevention through public events.”
Cyclists riding in the Cape Town Cycle Tour will receive an email encouraging them to fill out a questionnaire about their skin health. This will be used to indicate participants who are most at-risk and most appropriate for a screening. Screenings will take place at the Expo venue in Greenpoint. The campaign is presented by Clicks, with the support of Eucerin, La Roche- Posay, Bioderma, Dermalogica, Cipla and ISDIN.
Why screening for skin cancer is important
Cyclists spend long hours in the sun, with little shade coverage. This makes them more vulnerable than most people to skin cancers like melanoma. One of the dermatologists involved in the drive is the famed Dr Michael Mol. He explains:
“Melanoma is the deadliest skin cancer, but it offers a unique advantage: It is one of the few cancers that we can see. Spotting it early, before it spreads, dramatically boosts survival rates and makes treatment far more effective. With skin cancer there is no excuse to miss what is in plain sight.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, the first symptoms of possible melanoma are usually a change in an existing mole and developing a new pigmented or unusual-looking growth on the skin.
How cyclists can protect their skin health
Whether you’ll be taking over Cape Town’s roads on 9 March or enjoy the occasional ride around the neighbourhood, there are several things you can do to improve your skin health. The US-based Skin Cancer Foundation makes the following suggestions, especially for cyclists:
Apply sunscreen to high-exposure areas
You should apply sunscreen to all areas on your body, but in particular to those that will receive the most sunlight. The backs of your neck, ears and legs are often the most exposed to the sun when you cycle so you should target these areas which are sometimes forgotten.
Wear UV protective clothing
Most professional cycling gear now incorporate an element of UV protection to promote skin health. This technology allows the sun’s harmful UV rays to be filtered out by the fabric. You can also buy leg and arm sleeves to add a barrier between your skin and the sun. Using a helmet with a visor will provide shade over your face. It’s also a good idea to wear UV protective sunglasses.
Reapply sunscreen during breaks
Rehydrate, refuel and repeat. These are the 3 R’s of long-distance cycling, reminding sportspeople to stop every hour for a body break. The Skin Foundation recommends adding another ‘R’ and reapplying sunscreen. Sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours and more frequently if you’re sweating.
How do you look after your skin health when cycling?
Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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