Cape Town’s cycling community is mourning, after veteran cyclist Dennis Hammar died days after coming under attack on the N1 highway.

76-year-old Hammar was cycling from Paarden Eiland towards FW De Klerk Boulevard on Sunday morning when he was pushed off his bicycle and robbed of his cellphone by an unknown assailant. The suspect fled the scene.

As such, police initially opened a robbery case.

“An unidentified male pushed him off his bike and grabbed his cellular telephone from his backpack, and jumped over the fence on the other side of the road. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment,” said Western Cape police spokesperson, Captain Frederick van Wyk.

Van Wyk said detectives were informed that Hammar had passed in hospital, two days later.

“On 2025-07-29 at about 23:20, Cape Town Central SAPS members were informed that the cyclist died in hospital.”

An inquest has been launched, and an autopsy will determine the exact cause of death.

Cycling community saddened

Cycling safety organisation, Stay Wider of the Rider, further confirmed Hammar’s death.

“Dennis sustained fractures and multiple injuries and had to undergo an operation and succumbed to his injuries due to post op complications.”

The organisation said Hammar was an avid competitive cyclist, having completed 40 cycle tours. He was also a member of the Club 100 cycling club.

His death has reignited concerns about safety along Cape Town’s highways, with Stay Wider of the Rider attributing the attack to “ongoing attacks from the squatter community living on the Prasa land.”

Police are appealing to the public for information via Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or the MySAPS App.