Warning, serious rant below. The Mangaung MTB 55km / 75km event on 29 October 2016 was the worst my friend and I ever experienced. This Bloemfontein race cannot be recommended. I will only list a few issues, but every issue is serious enough to skip this event in future. 1. MTB Registration: Registration for the MTB race took place only on Friday until 18:00. When I arrived from Pretoria, it was too late to register. They do not cater for riders who cannot make it before 18:00 on the Friday. The morning before the race, there was no one at the registration table and I was informed that the registration officials will only be there at 10:00 for the roadies to register for their Sunday race. 2. The MTB Route: The route was poorly marked and there was a serious shortage of marshals. A lot of us lost our way and after the third time I lost also interest in the race. We were supposed to ride through the botanical gardens but a lady at the gate refused entry. Despite tens of riders trying to persuade her that she is damaging the interest and integrity of the tourist market, no access was granted. In the end, my 75km ride ended as a 29km ride. My Pretoria friend’s 55km race was 20km. That included the additional distances we had to ride to find the route. In addition, there was not a single water table. 3. Road Race Registration: Having finished disappointingly early in the MTB event, I went to the registration table at about 09:30 to register for the road race the following day. There was a guy (I think the supervisor) and three ladies in their red t-shirts at the registration table. The race envelopes were on the table in boxes and I asked to get my number. I was told by the gentlemen that I should have read the SMS, the table only opens at 10:00. I could not believe this and asked him, seen that the MTB race was such a disaster, why can't I just get my envelope and leave. One of the ladies then handed my envelope containing only the race number and 4 pins. Yes, the road race on Sunday softened the disappointment of the MTB race, but few MTB riders entered for both races like my friend. I have spent thousands on entry fees, travelling costs and accommodation. My friend travelled also all the way from Pretoria and went back with only the 20kms on his Polar GPS and an empty purse. I paid on-line R230 for the 70km (although the map's on-line link indicates it is 75km). A PPA member had to pay R200, so R30 of my R230 went to the PPA. Guys, do not consider this as a MTB race weekend in Bloemfontein. To say that the Pedal Power Association (PPA) and the race organisers were poor in organising the MTB race, is an understatement.
