Cape Town Marathon cancelled on race day due to severe winds
The 2025 Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, a flagship event and final candidate for Abbott World Marathon Majors status, was dramatically cancelled this morning, Sunday, October 19th, due to severe overnight and early morning wind conditions that compromised safety.
The last-minute decision, made just an hour and a half before the scheduled 6:15 am start time, has sent a wave of disappointment through the estimated 24,000 runners who were set to participate, including thousands who had travelled internationally.
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Safety Concerns Prompt Emergency Call
Race organisers confirmed that an emergency meeting with the Joint Operations Committee (JOC)—which includes the City’s Disaster Risk Management, Safety and Security, and SAPS—was held in the pre-dawn hours.
The primary reason for the cancellation was the extensive damage caused by gale-force winds to infrastructure at the Green Point start and finish venue, as well as along the route.
“The wind is constantly gusting in Woodstock, and the infrastructure at the start and finish venue has been compromised,” said Colonel Christo Engelbrecht, speaking on behalf of the JOC. “It’s unsafe for runners and pedestrians in that whole area, and that’s why the race has had to be cancelled. It was a collective decision made by the entire Joint Operations Committee.”
Overnight gusts tore down marquee tents and ripped branding from scaffolding, creating a dangerous environment for both runners and volunteers.
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A Major Setback for World Majors Ambitions
The cancellation is a significant blow to the event’s ambition to become Africa’s first Abbott World Marathon Major. The 2025 race was the final assessment year in the three-year evaluation process to join the ranks of elite marathons like New York, London, and Tokyo.
Clark Gardner, CEO of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, expressed the organisation’s profound disappointment. “The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon is devastated at the cancellation of our very special event,” Gardner said. “We have worked for months on planning for all scenarios and conditions, but ultimately a bigger force had the final say, and we are so sorry for the situation.”
Runner Disappointment and Resilience
The announcement, sent out via WhatsApp, social media, and to local radio stations at 5:00 am, caught many runners either at the venue or already en route.
“I can’t express my disappointment. This was going to be my first Sanlam Cape Town Marathon. I’ve travelled more than 1500km from Polokwane and I can’t run. I spent a lot of money to prepare the marathon, such as booking for accommodation, flight… I was disappointed to hear this news,” one runner shared with the SABC.
Despite the setback, the spirit of the running community immediately shone through. Within minutes of the news, local runners began coordinating “unofficial” runs across the city, embracing the South African spirit of making a plan. Groups formed for spontaneous 42.2km routes along the Atlantic Seaboard, turning disappointment into a determined community effort.
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Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis acknowledged the difficulty of the call, stating: “I’m grateful to the event organisers for taking a decision with runners’ safety in mind… The City is committed to hosting events of the highest global standards, and that includes sometimes managing difficult calls like this one.”
Organisers have confirmed they will communicate with all registered participants within the next 48 hours regarding refund policies and other compensation options. The shorter Saturday events, including the 10km Peace Run and trail races, went ahead as scheduled yesterday under windy but manageable conditions.
