{"id":20935,"date":"2014-09-08T09:25:00","date_gmt":"2014-09-08T08:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/2014\/09\/08\/tread-buffalo-category-announced-for-the-munga-r1606\/"},"modified":"2023-02-08T11:55:40","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T11:55:40","slug":"tread-buffalo-category-announced-for-the-munga-r1606","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/tread-buffalo-category-announced-for-the-munga-r1606\/","title":{"rendered":"Tread Buffalo Category announced for The Munga"},"content":{"rendered":"

Five months after it was launched, the TREAD Buffalo Category, a new weight division for premium South African mountain bike races, has gained significant popularity and will now also be included in the inaugural edition of The Munga, which takes place in South Africa from 3-8 December 2014.<\/p>\n

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In order to be classified for the TREAD Buffalo Category at official partner events, riders need to weigh at least 90kg. For two-rider team events, which is the format used at most South African stage races, the combined minimum weight for the team must be 180kg.<\/p>\n

The new weight division, which includes its own podium ceremony and prizes for riders who would never have had a real racing incentive before, will now form part of The Munga, a 1000-kilometre single-stage race from Bloemfontein to Waterford Wine Estate, Stellenbosch.<\/p>\n

To celebrate the inclusion of a TREAD Buffalo Category at The Munga, the organisers have made one The Munga entry available to the top TREAD Buffalo Category team at next week\u2019s Isuzu Trucks PE-Plett four-day stage race. At a cost of US$10 000 (about R100 000) entries for The Munga are highly coveted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re stoked to have The Munga on board as a premium partner event for our TREAD Buffalo Category,\u201d said Sean Badenhorst of TREAD \u2013 Mountain Biking With Soul, the company that owns and manages the TREAD Buffalo Category. \u201cWe only consider high-quality mountain bike events that offer a serious challenge to the participants for our TREAD Buffalo Category. When the organisers of The Munga asked for partner status, we saw an immediate synergy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel that it won\u2019t only be the stereotypical super-lean, feather-light athletes lining up to tackle The Munga. There are many super-strong bigger riders that will be grinding their way across the Karoo that will give the slim riders a real challenge. But now there\u2019s also another incentive for bigger guys (and girls) to enter The Munga,\u201d said Alex Harris, The Munga Race Director.<\/p>\n

Harris confirmed that the winning team in the TREAD Buffalo Category at the 2014 The Munga would also receive a free entry into the 2015 The Munga as part of the weight-division category prize.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve chosen the Isuzu Trucks PE-Plett event to give away that The Munga TREAD Buffalo entry for two reasons: Firstly, the PE-Plett is one of the tougher stage races there is. And with The Munga claiming to be \u2018The Toughest Race on Earth\u2019, we feel it\u2019s appropriate. The other reason is that in order to be conditioned for The Munga in early December, you need already be in fairly good endurance condition now and those who are racing strongly at PE-Plett fit right in,\u201d explained Badenhorst.<\/p>\n

The Munga, which has a five-day time limit for it\u2019s 1000-plus kilometres, is offering a prize purse of US$1 million, by far the biggest prize in any global endurance event that\u2019s open to anyone. It has already attracted more than 130 team entries (riders will compete as pairs) from around the world and is expected to achieve more than 400 team entries by the entry closing date on 31 October 2014.<\/p>\n

The TREAD Buffalo Category has already been successfully incorporated into the following premium mountain bike events in 2014:<\/p>\n