Modern Cyclist Magazine Issue 1, September 2014 | Seite 18

MC future rides

The Munga will travel right
across South Africa on its
route from Bloemfontein
to Stellenbosch, hopefully
travelling faster than this
relic. Photograph by Alex
Harris/The Munga

Munga gives
out entries
S

o first we heard the rumours. Then
we actually saw it on TV!
And now it’s pretty much, definitely,
hopefully going to happen. The world’s
richest mountain bike race that is.
So then, just when you thought the
organisers had done just about everything
to tell everyone about the race. They do
something else. They give one of the world’s
best mountain bikers a free entry.

Unfortunately, however, the organisers of The
Munga have decided to limit the number of
teams to 450 for the inaugural edition.
Since its launch on 22 May, global interest
in the event has been significant. But the
organisers want the race experience,
regardless of their finishing position, to be of
the highest quality, which has led to the entry
number limit.

Yes, it is confirmed. The co-winner of the big
women’s prize of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic,
Danish-born Annika Langvad received an
entry for The Munga worth US$10 000, just
like that!
OK, ok then, just to stress, the blonde Dane
had to win the world champs. And only
then did she get “a ticket to ride” The
Munga, which as you should know by now,
is a 1000 kilometre endurance race from
Bloemfontein to Stellenbosch.
But what you should really know, is that
the race, which takes place from 3 to
8 December, has the biggest pay-out
because of the guaranteed US $1 million
dollar prize purse, the richest podium payout in endurance sport.
The top three teams to finish The Munga will
share US$900 000 with the other US$100 000
being offered as the ‘Underdog’ prize, a
lucky draw reward open to all teams that
finish outside the top three and within the
five-day cut-off limit.

18

World mountain biking
superstar Anneke
Langvad will be riding
The Munga in December.
Photo from The Munga

“We want every participant to savour every
moment of The Munga. And in order to
ensure a memorable experience, we have
decided that 900 riders (450) teams is the
optimal number for the first edition,” said
Alex Harris, The Munga Founder and Race
Director.
“We are promoting The Munga as being
‘unsupported’, but this simply means no
outside seconding for any teams. Our five
race villages, situated roughly every 150-180
kilometres, will offer comprehensive catering

ISSUE 1 SEPTEMBER 2014 / www.moderncyclist.co.za

for the participants and we want to
ensure this is of a high quality. By limiting
the numbers we can guarantee a
premium experience,” added Harris.
“Since the launch, we’ve been
inundated with enquiries, many of which
have resulted in entries from athletes
from around the world. We’ve noticed
it’s not only mountain bikers, but also
triathletes and road cyclists,” said Harris.
“The big challenge for many so far seems
to be to find a well-matched partner.
“This match-up is obviously crucial as the
race, even to beat the five-day cut-off,
will demand a combination of sleep
deprivation and deep levels of physical,
mental and emotional strain, all of which
can break you down and challenge
you beyond what you’ve experienced
before. Food, drinks and other comforts
will be in generous supply at our race
villages and we want to ensure that no
competitor has to wait long for anything
that he or she needs or wants on arrival,”
explained Harris.
Offering riders an opportunity to see South Africa
which few have experienced, The Munga is
bound to change the lives of everyone involved.
Photograph by Alex Harris/The Munga