The Munga, la carrera de Mountain Bike más extrema (y gratificante) del mundo
The Munga es el nombre de una nueva prueba de resistencia para ciclistas de montaña que pasa a convertirse, desde su lanzamiento, en la competición de Mountain Bike más dura, exigente y mejor premiada de nuestro planeta. Mil kilómetros de recorrido en una sola etapa y un millón de dólares de premio para los vencedores son las cifras con las que esta nueva carrera se presenta en el panorama competitivo actual, aunque con una premisa bien clara: se trata probablemente de la competición más difícil y extrema de todas las existentes en la actualidad.
Según explica Alex Harris, explorador, reconocido atleta y director de esta nueva carrera: "The Munga es más que una carrera, es una prueba contra los elementos y la resistencia del cuerpo humano pero, sobre todo, es una carrera que cambiará el deporte. Con el premio que ofrecemos en The Munga, esperamos que el Mountain Bike de un salto de calidad, sea más conocido y se sitúe en el lugar que merece". Durante la presentación de esta increíble prueba, muchos de los grandes equipos del mundo del ciclismo de montaña se mostraron interesados en participar en tan exigente evento.
Por primera vez en la historia, The Munga se estrena como una carrera por parejas de una sola etapa que dará comienzo el próximo 3 de Diciembre. El recorrido, de nada menos que 1.000 kilómetros, llevará a los participantes desde Bloemfontein, una de las tres capitales de Sudáfrica, hasta Waterford Wine Estate, en el corazón de Stellenbosch (el segundo asentamiento europeo más antiguo de Sudáfrica). La ruta está diseñada para combinar resistencia, experiencia y estrategia, de forma que todos los equipos puedan exprimir sus habilidades al máximo, y se desarrollará por algunas de las zonas menos transitadas de toda Sudáfrica.
Acerca de las reglas de esta nueva competición, no estará permitida la asistencia externa de ningún tipo. Habrá cinco puntos de control a lo largo del recorrido, donde los corredores podrán descansar o dormir (a su libre elección) y donde podrán dejar material antes de iniciar la prueba, pero no recibir asistencia de otros equipos. Otro hecho destacado es que estará prohibido el drafting. Sólo se podrá ir a rueda de otro equipo hasta el primer punto de control; a partir de ese primer punto, la prueba se deberá realizar de forma individual por equipo, sin poder unirse a otras parejas participantes. Por suerte, la ruta estará señalizada y no será necesario el uso de dispositivos GPS, siendo obligatorio seguir el recorrido marcado por motivos de seguridad, organización y seguimiento.
El primer equipo que cruce la línea de meta se llevará un premio en metálico de $750.000, con un premio de $100.000 para el segundo clasificado y de $50.000 para el tercero. Todos aquellos equipos que acaben el recorrido por debajo de los 5 días de tiempo también obtendrán un premio, siempre y cuando suceda tal cosa. Prueba de ello es que si el primer equipo logra acabar en menos de 5 días esta competición, el premio se elevará hasta el millón de dólares. ¿La inscripción para la carrera? Nada menos que 10.000 dólares, sólo aptos para bolsillos muy profesionales.
Más información en | The Munga
http://www.todomountainbike.es/art/the-munga-competicion-mtb-extrema
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THE MUNGA MTB RACE LAUNCHES WITH $1 MILLION PRIZE MONEY
Yesterday, the world of mountain biking and endurance racing was flipped on its head – when the world’s toughest, most demanding – yet most rewarding – mountain bike race was launched.
The Munga – a 1000km, single-stage race will elevate the sport of mountain biking (MTB) by giving these sports enthusiasts a prize to be excited about – one that has never been offered before!
TheMunga
“The Munga offers more than just a race, it’s a test against the toughest of external elements and against the human body, but most importantly, it’s a game changer,” says Alex Harris, renowned explorer, athlete, founder of Xplore Authentic Experiences and Race Director of The Munga. “With The Munga’s prize money significantly more that of current event prizes, it is a massive leap for the sport and one that we hope will bring greater recognition to the sport and to the racer in all of us.”
In a first for the world, The Munga has introduced a two-person team, single stage mountain bike race that will take place from the 3rd of December 2014. The intense, 1000km route for The Munga’s inaugural race will start in Bloemfontein, leading riders through vast distances across the Karoo, and conclude at the finish line at the Waterford Wine Estate, in the heart of Stellenbosch. The route has been designed to combine endurance, experience and strategy to satisfy those riding enthusiasts looking for a compelling story. It is set to take riders through some of South Africa’s lesser travelled paths – a trail that showcases South Africa’s remoteness – while testing the strongest of wills.
“The world is not short of tough things to do. It’s short of tough people willing to tackle tough things. And this is set to be one of the toughest races on earth. Do you have what it takes to compete in The Munga and win your share of a million dollars?” concludes Harris.
Read more about the event at www.themunga.com
The first three teams to cross the finish line split $1 000 000. End of story. Pretty simple idea really. Maybe even a great idea.
Here’s the thing.
I'm not convinced great ideas spontaneously pop into your head over night and you wake up in the morning with something that’s going to change the world. No. I believe rather that they are the product of a whole bunch of things, like personal experiences, similar but smaller ideas, failed attempts, trials, tribulations, providence and of course hard work. All of these things work seemingly on their own but each towards a common end. When the timing is right, they come together and an idea is born. While that moment is finite and now, its genesis lies back in time.
In 2010 I raced the Freedom Challenge. One of the world's toughest mountain bike races, it winds its way for 2300kms over the high mountains of South Africa, stretching along the length of the country. I raced for 14 days against 30 or 40 other competitors and collapsed in first place across the line. My prize? A blanket. A very nice blanket mind you, but the same blanket that the guy who came last received.
It seemed the prize was internal; the promise of a much higher reward. The knowledge that I had completed one hell of a crazy race. I raced it again in 2011 and 2012, coming first and second, and setting a new course record. But still, only the blanket.
Then in 2013 I raced the Tour Divide, twice as long as the Freedom and stretching along the length of the North American Rockies, all the way to the Mexican border. This time I came third, but no blanket. Just a handshake from the US border police and an ice cream. Yup. You heard me right, an ice cream. Race the world's toughest mountain bike race for 17 days and all you get is an ice cream. It intrigued me that someone would race their heart out for nothing more than the satisfaction of finishing. But what if a race had both? The thrill of finishing something really hard, but also the very real chance of prize money. The kind of money that can really change your life, forever.
Why is it that the toughest races in the world offer no prize money? And the toughest athletes go unnoticed while conventional stage races glorify the few after just 5 or 6 hours on a bike, with podiums and pampered massages. That's not tough. Tough is when you’re not sure where you're going to sleep. Tough is when you've been going for 20 hours and the small shop you hoped would be your resupply has now shut down. Tough is when you have to cover 200 miles on nothing more than a bag of almonds in a drizzle and a soul that's about to go out. That's tough.
The world discounts qualities that really matter, like perseverance and belief and determination. It lavishes praise on pampered pros and blows dirt on the underdog. Well not anymore. The time has come. The time is now. Its time to recognize the racers that have lived largely in the shadows and obscurity while their colleagues bask in the glory. Its time to give back.
Its MUNGA time!
Alex Harris
http://www.themunga.com/
http://www.treadmtb.co.za/munga-mtb-race-launches-1-million-prize-money/
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