The Munga 2019

[River Rat]

The 7 back markers behind the cut are now down to 6, still behind the cut and KB is now our last rider at Pampoenpoort. The stats for her are getting worse her pace dropped to 11.4kph which means she has 50 hours of riding left with 54 hours to do it in. I believe that unless you're at or passed Loxton you're not going to make it, coincidentally Nina Long was the last finisher in 2018 and she's been resting up at Loxton for 5 hours now.

[SSCC]

Aiiiii that is unfortunate!!! They have no choice but to DQ him if he doesn't go back..he's scoring a massive advantage over MW over that section!

Let’s see if they do. In the past they have let it slide without even giving the riders a time penalty.

[JohanDiv]

Looks like he turned around now

[JohanDiv]

Some pics JS sent last night of yesterday. Currently lying in 8th place, just arrived at Tankwa Padstal

[MORNE]

After thinking about it...they need to change that last section to avoid a repeat of this. It id such an anti climax...i wont be shocked if the rules are changed for next year to state the obvious.....that there can be only one winner. Sure its in the spirit of sportsmanship and blah blah but its against the spirit of competition....its like the race was fixed. Id sommer DQ them both from the race for “outside assistance” for the part they held hands lol.

[Wayne pudding Mol]

This is technically a race but at the same time it’s an endurance event of massive proportions. If these guys have diced and decided they couldn’t break each other then the decision to cross together should be respected. Deciding this race on a sprint is not the same as Roubaix. Anyone who is disappointed can start training now and sprint to the Munga 2021 win

[MORNE]

Like others, i call BS on the “couldn't break each other”.

Someone would have if they went for it up Bain’s with the last fumes in the tank...mentally or physically.

 

Someone wins and someone is first of the losers. They know who won. Both of them will tell their friend over a glass that they actually won but “insert media stunt here”. Thats how it works if you enter a competition. If its just about the achievement of finishing a 1100km endurance ride in 45* heat...they can go do that on their own time...like some hubbers on here.

[Wile E.]

Ironman has a rule that a "contrived tie" will result in both athletes being disqualified. Should be the same here. I'm all for sportsmanship but I think this goes against the true nature of fair racing.

[Ozzie NL]

Like others, i call BS on the “couldn't break each other”.

Someone would have if they went for it up Bain’s with the last fumes in the tank...mentally or physically.

Someone wins and someone is first of the losers. They know who won. Both of them will tell their friend over a glass that they actually won but “insert media stunt here”. Thats how it works if you enter a competition. If its just about the achievement of finishing a 1100km endurance ride in 45* heat...they can go do that on their own time...like some hubbers on here.

You ever ridden 1076km on less than 2h sleep? You might not like it as a spectator but I can understand why they came to the arrangement.

And to an earlier point; arrangements finishing have been made in professional road racing as well. Just ask Vino

[The Crazy German]

 

Imagine a 2 man breakaway gets to the velodrome in roubaix and they shake hands and cross together?

 

There where three of them actually that time round. Would have been 4 if he didn't have an untimely puncture

[DieselnDust]

I disagree.

It's a race.

You race to the line,and the best man wins. They called the truce so far out I lost interest. Bainskloof ascent would have separated them and the final single track would not have made a difference.

 

Massive respect to both of them for the ride, but I think this was a bad idea.

 

Imagine a 2 man breakaway gets to the velodrome in roubaix and they shake hands and cross together?

 

 

Bingo!

[DJR]

Maybe it's just me being old and sentimental (and VERY far removed from doing the same anywhere near any podium) but I like what the winners did. I think it is wonderful that after racing each other for days and suffering horribly a strong enough brotherhood can develop to make two strangers decide to finish it together. Sometimes I think that bond with another human is more important that the winners trophy. Old and slow and sentimental, I know........

[Butterbean]

I don't get why people are upset... I really doubt they're racing for your entertainment, but much rather for their own pride and sense of achievement. If they're happy to put themselves through those gruelling miles and agree to finish together, then good for them.

 

I'm sure they won't lose sleep over your disgust with their result.

[porqui]

To those who call BS

 

 

Go and do the Munga

[keithbe]

What a bunch of whinny ass, blithering arm chair critics! It's not about your enjoyment of the event but rather the achievement by the athletes...that actually participated.

 

Ride the events and win them yourself then. My f*k Marleze

[hubbernero]

You ever ridden 1076km on less than 2h sleep? You might not like it as a spectator but I can understand why they came to the arrangement.

And to an earlier point; arrangements finishing have been made in professional road racing as well. Just ask Vino

The question needs to be asked when that "arrangement" was made? Looks like it could've been at the Tankwa Padstal already.

 

There's plenty opportunity left to win from there. Hell, even with 1km to go to the top of Bainskloof someone could've made the race winning move/attack. There is not a snowballs chance in hell, if both of them tried their utmost to win it right until the very end, that they would've crossed the finish line together.

 

Even Mr Munga, Alex Harris himself was involved in a 3-way sprint for 3rd place during the TDR. After almost 4400km's they didn't decide to roll over the line together for a 3 man joint 3rd place!