With 10 days to go to the 32nd Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour on 8 March, organisers are committed to ensuring that cyclists enjoy a stress-free trip over Boyes Drive.

Due to extensive road works on Main Road in Muizenberg making the road unsafe, a decision was made to reroute the Cycle Tour over Boyes Drive.

The Boyes Drive detour is only 1km longer than the old route. Cyclists have to tackle a 1km climb up from Main Road to reach the 3km flat section. All along Boyes Drive slower cyclists are advised to keep left so that faster cyclists can overtake on the right.

"We studied Boyes Drive in detail and have taken a number of precautions to ensure cyclists' safety," said Ken Sturgeon, Co-Director of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust.

"2.8kms after the 1km hill climb up from Main Road, there is a refreshment station and an escape route down Old Boyes Drive back to Main Road as well as a control point where marshalls will slow or stop cyclists should there be any problems further along Boyes Drive. We will have full medical support along this section of the route," Sturgeon explained.

A sharp corner, 1km after the highest point of Boyes Drive, will be signposted and lined with straw bales.

The final descent down Clairvaux Road into Kalk Bay must be approached with extreme caution and cyclists are strongly advised not to exceed 30km/hour. This stretch has been declared a neutral zone, which means no overtaking is allowed and it will be clearly signposted.

Warning signs and marshals with loud hailers will be in place to control the descent. Straw bales will line the corners and some cat eyes have been removed from the left side of the top corner. Cyclists will be deflected towards the right hand lane to ease sharp corners. Rough sections of road surfaces have been improved but some uneven sections remain.

It is most important that cyclists check their brakes and ensure that their bikes are properly serviced ahead of Cycle Tour. "My advice to cyclists is to take it easy along Boyes Drive on a bicycle that's in good running order," Sturgeon concluded.