[Event] MTN National XCM #5 Mabalingwe Driven By NISSAN

[odessap]

Anybody pick up a small saddle bag? Shows how rough the route was if it fell off!

[Anine]

we did the 40km and really enjoyed the track. it certainly sharpened our sand riding/running/slogging skills

I do feel they could have had a 'technical' warning at one or two points but luckily the field wasnt congested so slamming anchors endangered nobody.

 

anybody know who took photos?

[RDP]

Why don't they put up the Ultra and Half Marathone in the mean time while they figure out the Marathone Results?

 

I cant believe they are taking this long to post the results!!!

[Slakkepas]

I didn`t stay for the price giving on Saturday. So fill me in please. The marathon pro`s took the wrong turn and did 95km. Did the still make it to the line 1^st?

Cos if I understand right the still got credited with the win?

[Rimz]

That would be great. Want to see the results for half!

[RABUBI]

http://www.photomarx.co.za/products/mtb_races/mtn_mtb_mabalingwe

[Li Mu Bai]

usually rules state that the route taken is the riders responsibility.

fiddling the results makes no sense if some took wrong turns.

I wonder what Spectrumsport is dithering with, that this is taking so long.

[Anine]

http://www.photomarx..._mtb_mabalingwe

 

thanx dude!

[dirtrider]

usually rules state that the route taken is the riders responsibility.

fiddling the results makes no sense if some took wrong turns.

I wonder what Spectrumsport is dithering with, that this is taking so long.

 

Agree . I saw all the marking etc and got 75.86km on the clock meaning I took no short-cutts .

[Richard29]

my day started really *** excuse the pun, i picked up a bug on fri night arrived and mabalingwe fri night had a lekker braai chilled in the jacuzzi anyhow went to bed , ummm 30 min later was visting the toilet more than i was in bed however 6am i shot into town got some pro biotics and re hydrate drank 1litre rehydrate and carried 3 litres of fluid on me, ate bananas anythinh to replenish my lost nutrients

 

however after 6km from starting the race i realised it wasnt so wise to have ridden and was hating every kilometre, it was a countdown to joy......after the 20 kilometre mark i started to get my groove back and picked up the pace continously sipping on fluids and stopping at every waterpoint for more fluids......

 

the sand challenged many of us, if you didnt know how to ride in sand.....after this race you will, my gears then started making interesting sounds at 35km mark and by this time i was seriously losing my sense of humour...... at 40 km i couldnt change into my big gears it would jam, so riding in the best gears that i could heading to finish, we then came to a helleva sandy drop off within the last 2 kilometres i pulled brakes gently to align myself down this drop off

 

it didnt go as planned i washed out and ate some dirt.....now pissed off from the day of badluck and surviving all the sand n rocks and falling in the last 2km, i picked my bike up had a few words to myself seriously mumbling a couple of f%$# etc i found a camera man in the bushes aimed directly at me, never the less i got back on and carried on slogging.

 

we were greeted by cheerful faces at the end, ice cold drinks and the damn awesum ice cream made it all worth it and not to forget my buddy gavin hanging back on his race to see me through to the end thanks buddy.

 

reading all the comments of breaking chains and bikes i think i had a better day than most, will definately be back next year maybe for the 75km ......great day and big upd to the organisers, and to every one who rode

[Herman mtb'er]

Apparently the first 6 guys in the marathon did take a wrong turn-off and ended on 95km - but they still manage to finish in the first 6 places! That’s impressive – they have averaged 25km/h!

 

 

I didn`t stay for the price giving on Saturday. So fill me in please. The marathon pro`s took the wrong turn and did 95km. Did the still make it to the line 1^st?

 

Cos if I understand right the still got credited with the win?

[Thorn199]

Good 40km... Route was easier than expected, with no big nasty hills. The only really tricky bits were the occasional sand traps... trick was to keep the power on and go with the flow. Nice challenge. The last 10kms from WP3 was a bit of a drag on tired legs, but had fun.

 

Started in Batch C, and I reckon I did it in about 2 hours. Fortunately no mechanicals - saw lots of riders with punctures and chain issues.

 

Looking forward to the full results.

[Anine]

yeah, my chain also didnt enjoy all the sand and started sounding angry at about 35km. next year I'll bring lube along.

 

the last couple of km was probably the hardest with steep sandy dongas. running/jumping through them was faster and used less energy

[Cav']

Nice pic of a Lion chasing Andrew Maclean at the race

[Purnjap]

Nice pic of a Lion chasing Andrew Maclean at the race

Yeah when I went past it was a white lion and she wasn't as hungry as this one

[swartpiet]

Hi All,

 

just to quickly clear up a few things from advendurance and spectrum sport side.

1) The riders that took a wrong turn and ended up doing 95km did not do so due to their own wrong doing. At the last waterpoint for the 75km the guys at th waterpoint off loaded their bottles and stuff infront of the board that shows the 75km guys to carry on straight. So approx top 40 guys never saw that board and took the turn onto the 40km rout doing an additional 20km. The problem was picked and the officials on the rout rushed to the waterpoint to correct the problem. These riders cant be penalised for that.

 

2) Between the SASeeding staff and spectrum sport they know who the riders were that got real value for their money with an added 20km. The are now looking at a way to try and resolve the problem that will be fair to all.

 

We apologize for the inconvenience caused and also for the long wait for the results. The staff are doing their best rectify it asap and release the result.

 

Hope you all understand.