Critical success factors for a cycling event in Cape Town : road cyclists versus mountain bikers

Abstract

The tourism and events industry showed extensive growth prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The industry gave its consumers the opportunity to gain different experience from their usual daily lifestyle and activities through sport tourism. This study focuses on the critical success factors (CSFs) that cyclists consider when participating in the Cape Town Cycle Tour (CTCT) in terms of mountain biking, road cycling or both segments. The aim of this study is to close the gap currently existing in the literature regarding the subject of CSFs in cycling events. The main objective of the study was to determine what mountain bikers and road cyclists regard as CSFs when participating in cycling events, by means of focusing specifically on the 2019 CTCT. The current study adopted a quantitative approach to data collection. The approach entailed following a systematic and objective process of using numerical data derived from an exclusive subgroup of a population, so as to be able to generalise the findings to the population researched. Questionnaires were split according to the three registration venues (Rondebosch Golf Course, Dirtopia Farm in Stellenbosch and Green Point Stadium in Cape Town) and administered to participants of the CTCT 2019. Respondents self-administered the questionnaires during the registration of the event. Despite some negative impacts being highlighted and other aspects investigated; the most important finding of the study revealed that cyclists are not a homogeneous group and that the participants in mountain biking have different needs than do the participants in road cycling. There were no major differences found between the two cycling categories. However, both cycling categories consider emergency management as a critical aspect of the event. Conclusively, the study confirms that determining the CSFs of an event impacts on attracting both the new and previous participants of cycling events. The confirmation is seen particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic that has significantly hampered participation at cycling events and escalated the need to attract new and previous participants to ensure sustainability of the industry.