Last year shockwaves went around the world, with news that a mountain bike race was offering one million dollars prize money. ‘The Munga‘ immediately captured interest from racers, armchair enthusiasts, and people’s Facebook feeds. How could a race no one had heard of offer so much prize money?
Details on the event were scarce, but the event would be point to point, where the riders in two-person teams would decide when to stop.
Lots of questions were raised – who was backing the event? How was rider safety ensured? Why wasn’t their a women’s category? Would their be drug testing?
Regardless, some big names signed up – including Canadian Cory Wallace and Australian Jason English. But at the last minute – the event fell apart. It’s said that The Munga could no longer secure the prize money – but whatever the reasons, the race did not happen in late 2014.
But now, one year on – The Munga is about to start. The $1 million prize is gone, with no major sponsor able to provide the backing. The high entry fees are also gone – and the reason? People want to race.
On Wednesday the 2nd December at 12pm the inaugural Munga Mountain Bike race starts at the Bloemfontein Windmill Casino and Hotel.
Brought to you by PwC, riders will have 5 days to brave the mid-summer Karoo temperaturess and reach the finish at Diemersfontein Wine Farm. In all, almost fifty riders have signed up for this historic race, set to change the way riders think about mountain biking. Along the route, 5 Karoo towns will serve as race villages where riders can elect to eat and sleep if they want to. The clock runs non-stop, leaving riders with the strategic dilemma of what to do? Should they sleep and for how long, or should they ride on through the night… and at what risk?
Many of the questions remain – but the lack of prize money also changes them. Is cheating as big a problem when the prize isn’t such a lure?
We’re eager to see how the race unfolds – and impressed that it is still running. As founder Alex Harris has said, people want to race. And they don’t need $1million to do it.