The Munga MTB Race

[lucmccann]

Even if you are outside the Top 3, just finishing gives you a chance at the $100 000 prize

[kosmonooit]

Surely you would only enter (+pay R100k) if you thought you had a chance of winning? What pleasure is there cycling through the Karoo in the December heat?

[Skubarra]

I have spit my share of poison on this race on this thread but if there are enough teams willing to pay R100k to enter then who am I to criticize? Still dubious if we are going to see a second version of this race but let's see.

 

The nice thing about the ridiculous entry fee for me is that I'm not even tempted and there's no FOMO, the Epic's entry fee is close enough to affordable for me that I have mild case of FOMO everytime the name is mentioned.

 

The only thing that still grinds my gears me is that $100K spot prize, in my naive view the route & challenge should be appealing enough on its own to attract entrants without resorting to a little lotto competition to justify a exorbitant entry fee.

[MTB-BFK]

are there any riders out there who could be a serious win contender that do not have the cash? If so, maybe some sort of funding syndicate could be formed?

[Stretch]

For the experience of it? Each to their own. I know that I will be glued to the race if it is televised.

For a sixteenth of the price I could have family following in a car staying at bed and breakfast while friends and I enjoy an experience riding through the country together laughing and enjoying the experience....worth way more than trying to compete with Karl platt

[DJR]

Surely you would only enter (+pay R100k) if you thought you had a chance of winning? What pleasure is there cycling through the Karoo in the December heat?

 

Around the braai and after a few beers, some people love to say things like " I sat on Plattos wheel for 3 days, but then, just as I prepared to leave him for dead, I got heat stroke".

[kosmonooit]

maybe.. and I am reading in the splabs that some will do it for a 'war story' ffs! is that a selling factor?

 

'lest we forget'

[slabs]

Everyone thinking Platt has got this sown up go and look at some of the other entries. Some serious 24hr racers in the field and they know how to race without sleeping. This is not an Epic we you race for 4 hours and recover for the next day.

 

I would not discount Platt, but it will be interesting to see what his strategy will be.

[Nayr]

I think it's amazing that this sort of prize money is available for the top athletes in Mountain Biking, however I think it is diabolical that 500 other athletes have to essentially cough up for them to win it. If cycling really is the new golf, where are the sponsors, where are the big media conglomerates that should be footing the bill? I really do think we need better marketing in the sport to up the profile. Take for instance golf, the top 125 players in the world all earned over 1 million US last year in PRIZE MONEY... And it is all about profile of the sport. SuperSport pays millions of dollars every year for the TV rights, I bet The Munga and other top events don't earn a cent and because of SS policy, actually have to pay to air the coverage of the event just so they can attract the sponsors they do have... So I agree charge an entry fee that covers costs for mere mortals like you and I so we get the privilege to race with the big boys, but how can you charge the Pro's to enter an event...Not a knock on the organizers of the event or any other event in the country, they unfortunately don't have a choice and have to make money for their efforts but.... the money should be coming from elsewhere, like any other high profile sport. My Friday rant...

[Velouria]

So glad to hear that Cory Wallace and Jason English are teaming up - I think that could be quite a formidable team. With World 24hr Champs happening in October, they'll be in tip top shape come December.

[Shebeen]

golf is only worth millions because of the coverage. you don't get money into a sport without tv deals, especially when you can't even charge spectators.

 

I think if Alex could find a way to do tv coverage that makes sense, it could cover the costs and then some. but that's pretty damn hard. and that's not even thinking of the logistics of covering the course/leaders/non stop.

 

Think of downhill mtb world cup...freecaster did coverage on their eis because uci didn't see the viability of doing it...only now do we have redbull.tv

 

I can also look at last year's america's cup. was flippen amazing viewing, even to non sailors. they had to give the rights out for free just to get it aired.

[slabs]

I think it's amazing that this sort of prize money is available for the top athletes in Mountain Biking, however I think it is diabolical that 500 other athletes have to essentially cough up for them to win it. If cycling really is the new golf, where are the sponsors, where are the big media conglomerates that should be footing the bill? I really do think we need better marketing in the sport to up the profile. Take for instance golf, the top 125 players in the world all earned over 1 million US last year in PRIZE MONEY... And it is all about profile of the sport. SuperSport pays millions of dollars every year for the TV rights, I bet The Munga and other top events don't earn a cent and because of SS policy, actually have to pay to air the coverage of the event just so they can attract the sponsors they do have... So I agree charge an entry fee that covers costs for mere mortals like you and I so we get the privilege to race with the big boys, but how can you charge the Pro's to enter an event...Not a knock on the organizers of the event or any other event in the country, they unfortunately don't have a choice and have to make money for their efforts but.... the money should be coming from elsewhere, like any other high profile sport. My Friday rant...

 

Maybe cycling is not the new golf. Here is a list of the top viewed sports worldwide and guess what cycling not there. Very much dominated by sports played in the East and the States, but a lesson here is that every sport is competing and sponsors want a return. And golf, tennis etc does have huge viewership, hence the spoils.

Sport.bmp

[Trackz]

So glad to hear that Cory Wallace and Jason English are teaming up - I think that could be quite a formidable team. With World 24hr Champs happening in October, they'll be in tip top shape come December.

 

That's where my money is, the ultra riders, these riders have the secrets to non-stop riding dialled. I'm just going with Jay Petervary/Kurt Refsnider.

[Shebeen]

http://www.marathonmtb.com/2014/09/11/the-munga-announces-pro-rider-entrants/

 

I dunno about this, the depth of talent is so much smaller in women's division and it's not really up to a headline event to create the riders.

 

Notably absent from the listed riders is a strong women’s team. And beyond the personal challenge, why would a funding starved professional marathon or ultra endurance rider enter? The lion’s share of the prize pool ($750 000)is for the outright winner, which even for the best women, is far from a likely outcome. There is no publicised women’s prize category, and in this regard, the ‘forward thinking’ team behind the Munga seem to have sent the sport a long way backwards compared to all the events that now offer equal prize money for women.

[Renato]

Calling all interested Hub users.

 

My name is Renato. I am looking for a suitable male partner to win the inaugural Munga mountain bike race. Prospective ride candidates need to already have a super solid base and be currently training as if they will find a partner and want to win. They should be highly motivated for the event. Being able to do back to back 250km ride days at present will be a good thing.

 

Please respond to this post or mail me if you are interested. Thanks guys.

Ciao, Renato

 

kingsab@gmail.com

[Skylark]

Renato are you paying the entry fee for your prospective partner?