The Munga Postponed – World’s toughest race faces a tough challenge

http://youtu.be/9vQaVIoEjOM

Think this is a sign, the SA economy is not in good shape and most stage races have been milking us, could this be the start of the end for stage racing? At 2k a day for the standard 3 day events have sold like hot cakes, I don't see this being sustainable, the 3 years I've being doing this the top end bikes are up by 40%.

It's time this bubble pops. Some of us need to go back to golf.

Why don't they make it a Adventure and drop the price to R6500 ,I would't love to ride !!!

"Billionaires" seem quite stingy when it comes to actually putting up cash    . The Alonso road cycling team comes to mind

"Billionaires" seem quite stingy when it comes to actually putting up cash 

I suppose that is how they became billionaires to begin with...not parting with their money

Think this is a sign, the SA economy is not in good shape and most stage races have been milking us, could this be the start of the end for stage racing? At 2k a day for the standard 3 day events have sold like hot cakes, I don't see this being sustainable, the 3 years I've being doing this the top end bikes are up by 40%. It's time this bubble pops. Some of us need to go back to golf.

Think this is a sign, the SA economy is not in good shape and most stage races have been milking us, could this be the start of the end for stage racing? At 2k a day for the standard 3 day events have sold like hot cakes, I don't see this being sustainable, the 3 years I've being doing this the top end bikes are up by 40%. It's time this bubble pops. Some of us need to go back to golf.

I think your stretching it a bit.... Just because someone struggle to get a R100k race of the ground doesn't mean all the R10K per team stage races won't make it. You can't blame the whole economy every time a new idea doesn't quite sell.

Tell someone trying to get an entry for Sani2C or W2W the end of stage racing is near...

Now this is a real pity.

The downside of dreaming big I suppose.

The pros and cons are debatable but I for one enjoy the "big dreamers". Hell if it wasn't for dreaming big we wouldn't have put a man on the moon, wouldn't be drinking coffee or enjoying the massive offering that is stage racing in SA!

Now this is a real pity.

 

The downside of dreaming big I suppose.

 

The pros and cons are debatable but I for one enjoy the "big dreamers". Hell if it wasn't for dreaming big we wouldn't have put a man on the moon, wouldn't be drinking coffee or enjoying the massive offering that is stage racing in SA!

Hear hear!

This race really interested me and it's a big shame that it didn't get off the ground in 2014. 

Whatever your view on the prize money, route etc, it would've been GREAT to watch / follow guys from different disciplines hammering each other across the sweltering Karoo.

I honestly hope the organisers sort their problems out and we see 2015's race...

This race really interested me and it's a big shame that it didn't get off the ground in 2014. 

Whatever your view on the prize money, route etc, it would've been GREAT to watch / follow guys from different disciplines hammering each other across the sweltering Karoo.

I honestly hope the organisers sort their problems out and we see 2015's race...

Honestly I can't see it - maybe there are 20 to 50 teams that could have a chance at winning this thing. But if you need 450 for it to work, what's in it for the other 400 or so?

It's 4 times longer than Baviaans, and 3 times longer than 36One - but the cost per person of those is R1k to R1.5k depending on your team size. For that small sum you get bragging rights, great scenery and awesome support and a ride. If it really was 'The Toughest Race on Earth' then I'd agree with the extra bragging rights - but 1,000 on gravel might be up there with some of the tough ones, but I don't see how it's tougher than them. Again, if you're racing for the money, that is sure as hell going to be tough - but for everyone else just aiming to finish who also shelled out the same $5k to be there? I'm less convinced.

Honestly I can't see it - maybe there are 20 to 50 teams that could have a chance at winning this thing. But if you need 450 for it to work, what's in it for the other 400 or so?

 

It's 4 times longer than Baviaans, and 3 times longer than 36One - but the cost per person of those is R1k to R1.5k depending on your team size. For that small sum you get bragging rights, great scenery and awesome support and a ride. If it really was 'The Toughest Race on Earth' then I'd agree with the extra bragging rights - but 1,000 on gravel might be up there with some of the tough ones, but I don't see how it's tougher than them. Again, if you're racing for the money, that is sure as hell going to be tough - but for everyone else just aiming to finish who also shelled out the same $5k to be there? I'm less convinced.

The nature of a race like this.

Only the real hard men and ladies will enter (unless it's a media sponsor or someone wins an entry)

All the athletes that get there will be tough characters, unless some super wealthy individual thinks he is going there for fun.

Everyone seems to speculate and look at "names" and thinking this or that guy will win it.

This is a long way to ride, nobody can assure that they WILL and CAN win it.

There is a breaking point for every human, the guys who have the longest stretch in that regard with a little bit of leg speed will end up winning this.

Also it's a partner race and if one partner decides he or she just "can't go no more" it's all over.

I have seen the strongest athletes turn in to the biggest quitters when they can't handle the pressure mentally.

The body hurts, the bum hurts and every small hill becomes a massive mountain and the desire to carry on just fades more and more.

This is the hurt locker, the legs are cramping, the neck is in spasm, you get headaches and start hallucinating, the emotions hit an all time high, can you carry on and will you carry on ?

That is the question that needs to be asked, and that tipping point will and can happen at different times, not both riders will feel like that at exactly the same moment.

That is when the athlete realises he or she went out way too hard, pushed way too much in the beginning and should have ridden at a slightly lower, and more consistent pace, soft pedalling with forward motion is what they would need.

The point I am trying to make really, it could actually be anyones race.

 

That is when the athlete realises he or she went out way too hard, pushed way too much in the beginning and should have ridden at a slightly lower, and more consistent pace, soft pedalling with forward motion is what they would need.

 

The point I am trying to make really, it could actually be anyones race.

Agreed. Anyone of those with the potential to win it could do - whether that's 20, 50 ot even 100 teams. But do all 450 teams have that potential? That seems doubtful. In which case, what's the motivation for spending such a high entry fee to be there then. Seems to me, to make this a success, you need a pretty solid motivation beyond the prize money for the rest of the field. $5k is a lot to pay for bragging rights alone.

 

It's 4 times longer than Baviaans, and 3 times longer than 36One - but the cost per person of those is R1k to R1.5k depending on your team size. For that small sum you get bragging rights, great scenery and awesome support and a ride. If it really was 'The Toughest Race on Earth' then I'd agree with the extra bragging rights - but 1,000 on gravel might be up there with some of the tough ones, but I don't see how it's tougher than them. Again, if you're racing for the money, that is sure as hell going to be tough - but for everyone else just aiming to finish who also shelled out the same $5k to be there? I'm less convinced.

I was thinking about this yesterday, maybe we/ the organisers are over-estimating the appeal of "toughness" or the bragging rights of "having done the toughest race" for the cycling community. Sure it can be part of the drawcard but I think cyclists wants more then just toughing it out..

Not so long ago Trans Baviaans advertised itself as the longest single stage race in the world, then came Trans Karoo which is 10km longer and then 360One which is a whole lot longer - but still Trans Baviaans is by far the most popular of these despite being the shortest.

I think part of the problem is that other than being long& hot & tough there is not much on the road between Cape Town and Bloem that would appeal to the average cyclist out there.

I was thinking about this yesterday, maybe we/ the organisers are over-estimating the appeal of "toughness" or the bragging rights of "having done the toughest race" for the cycling community. Sure it can be part of the drawcard but I think cyclists wants more then just toughing it out..

 

Not so long ago Trans Baviaans advertised itself as the longest single stage race in the world, then came Trans Karoo which is 10km longer and then 360One which is a whole lot longer - but still Trans Baviaans is by far the most popular of these despite being the shortest.

 

I think part of the problem is that other than being long& hot & tough there is not much on the road between Cape Town and Bloem that would appeal to the average cyclist out there.

Funnily enough I am one of those dumb enough to go for something because it seems crazily tough ... I did ponder this one for a bit. Timing didn't work for me this year with other rides I'm already committed too. But actually it wasn't the high entry fee alone putting me off. I would have been one of those aiming to finish and not racing for the money. You nailed it above - it just looked like a long, hot and probably quite dull ride which ultimately I wouldn't be able to say was actually tough or interesting enough for the money and time I had spent doing it. I'm an endurance rider, and hence a potential customer of this - and it didn't appeal to me. You've got to fix that unless the event is just to be for Pros and Elite racers. I did actually exchange emails with Alex a few months back - but nothing came back in the responses to change my views.

I was thinking about this yesterday, maybe we/ the organisers are over-estimating the appeal of "toughness" or the bragging rights of "having done the toughest race" for the cycling community. Sure it can be part of the drawcard but I think cyclists wants more then just toughing it out..

 

Not so long ago Trans Baviaans advertised itself as the longest single stage race in the world, then came Trans Karoo which is 10km longer and then 360One which is a whole lot longer - but still Trans Baviaans is by far the most popular of these despite being the shortest.

 

I think part of the problem is that other than being long& hot & tough there is not much on the road between Cape Town and Bloem that would appeal to the average cyclist out there.

Yip, riding from Bloem to Colesberg to Three Sisters is route I would rather skip.

Yip, riding from Bloem to Colesberg to Three Sisters is route I would rather skip.

Its bad enough in a car.....

The whole event did not really strike a chord with me

Was all a bit bigger...better...harder....richer   pissing contest

I doubt it will make it back next year.They planned on 400 entries and got about 100 entries.I stand open to correction

That's about 30M Rondt entrance money short

You cannot run an event at a loss....or shouldnt anyway

Its bad enough in a car.....

The whole event did not really strike a chord with me

Was all a bit bigger...better...harder....richer   pissing contest

I doubt it will make it back next year.They planned on 400 entries and got about 100 entries.I stand open to correction

That's about 30M Rondt entrance money short

You cannot run an event at a loss....or shouldnt anyway

If they got as many as 100 it feels like cancelling could be a mistake to me. Any event is going to take a few years to build the following and aura that lures people in. 100 for a first one doesn't seem like a bad start - if you're in it for the long game to create a world-class event, then the 1st few years are likely to not make money as you build the brand. Very few business make a profit in their 1st year or two. You'd think any investor would understand that, and the need to actually stage the 1st one to get the whole machine rolling. Feels lightweight to just pull out

If they got as many as 100 it feels like cancelling could be a mistake to me. Any event is going to take a few years to build the following and aura that lures people in. 100 for a first one doesn't seem like a bad start - if you're in it for the long game to create a world-class event, then the 1st few years are likely to not make money as you build the brand. Very few business make a profit in their 1st year or two. You'd think any investor would understand that, and the need to actually stage the 1st one to get the whole machine rolling. Feels lightweight to just pull out

They would have planned for a first year of 400 with growth from thereon

It is not sustainable with only 100 entering...let alone paying

Total loser in my mind

They would have planned for a first year of 400 with growth from thereon

It is not sustainable with only 100 entering...let alone paying

Total loser in my mind

If their plan was an 88% uptake from year 1 they were doomed before they even got going. That should have been their year 3 target, with enough backing and an investor who bought into the growth plan over those early years.

so tougth that no one can do it

so tougth that no one can do it

Chuck Norris might

Funnily enough I am one of those dumb enough to go for something because it seems crazily tough ... I did ponder this one for a bit. Timing didn't work for me this year with other rides I'm already committed too. But actually it wasn't the high entry fee alone putting me off. I would have been one of those aiming to finish and not racing for the money. You nailed it above - it just looked like a long, hot and probably quite dull ride which ultimately I wouldn't be able to say was actually tough or interesting enough for the money and time I had spent doing it. I'm an endurance rider, and hence a potential customer of this - and it didn't appeal to me. You've got to fix that unless the event is just to be for Pros and Elite racers. I did actually exchange emails with Alex a few months back - but nothing came back in the responses to change my views.

Hmm - it is a bit sad that the event is dead (i know they say not) as it will probably happen in some form or another somewhere in the world.

But FWIW my 2 cents worth:

The old Epic was something like this in some ways - long open road endurance grinding. Suits some - but likely a minority of dare i say enthusiasts and normally not the flashy guys who have the big wallets and egos (read bucks - sorry endurance riders to generalize but you guys are normally not in this category).

May need flame retardant now, but their research was not well done especially as to the heir demographics of who would enter this event and whether they had R 110k entry money to plunk down.

Sure it has global appeal - as you say - just not sure quite waht that is.

And finally - the Epic is often flamed as being too easy now as they have gone to a much more single track based route with less of this open road grinding. I think, having tried an old Epic, the new route is much more exciting hence the appeal has increased.

There isn't 1000 km of single track between Bloem and Stellenbosch....

So I will be conducting a telephonic interview with Alex Harris tomorrow on MIX 93.8 FM.

I just got off the phone with him.

The Munga is alive and will be even stronger in time to come.

So I will be conducting a telephonic interview with Alex Harris tomorrow on MIX 93.8 FM.

I just got off the phone with him.

The Munga is alive and will be even stronger in time to come.

As an interviewer I hope you insist he back that up with facts, figures and dates. Anything less is a dis-service to those who have been let down by the cancellation. Now is not the time for a cozy chat - grill him hard for answers