On Wednesday morning at 12.00 local time in South Africa, Ramses Bekkenk started The Munga in Bloemfontein and then finished on Friday at 14:30 as winner in Wellington. The race conditions mainly had a headwind over 1070 kilometres through South Africa. The route has to be ridden within five days and Bekkenk succeeded more than that with his record winning time of 50 hours and 30 minutes.
‘I have been looking forward to his race which is is just like Drenthe 200 a ‘semi-unsupported’ race. Illness just before the National Championships marathon seemed to spoil my party but luckily I recovered in time to prepare myself as good as possible for this race. In the end you are always confronted with hunger, cold, thirst and sleep at moments you can’t plan. Besides I was solo in the lead quite early in the race and that made it mentally hard as well without companionship. Luckiliy I had mental support from my mother Jolien along the route. Really proud to be winner of this race. ’, stated Bekkenk.