This year’s Cape Town Cycle Tour, the 40th edition of the world’s largest cycle race, was marred by tragedy.

Two riders died during the race, as well as a Rotary marshal who was admitted to hospital, and news of their passing was met with an outpouring of grief.

The much loved race saw 35 000 riders take on the 109 kilometre course this year, but you can bet there was no bigger fan than Jonathan ‘Nick’ Cope.

He would be the Borat Mankini-wearing guy who has set social media abuzz, with videos and images doing the rounds.

Here he is cheering on the lead bunch, who whizz by at a serious rate of knots. Make sure you turn the volume up:

He had staying power, too, because here he is with all the chirps later in the race. This video via GoodThingsGuy:

Maybe it’s a good thing that he wasn’t actually riding, because we know that riders in Borat outfits have had brushes with authority in the past.

At one stage he did disembark from his bike:

And it’s clear that the high-energy performance took its toll:

Turns out he was popular with the riders:

This man deserves some bells…he was awesome….thank u for making our ride fun” – Lucy Moraba

“I hope he remembered to put on sun lotion!!! My son did a double lap and when he went past the second time the guys was still there peddling!!!” – Hayley Browne

“He made me want to cycle very fast and very far away. Laughing all the way.” – Emma Smith Staines

Well played, Mr Cope. As long as nothing untoward pops out the side of that mankini…

[sources:goodthingsguy&facebook]