The Munga 2023

[JohanDiv]

55 minutes ago, hboli4 said:

If I had to put money somewhere I will go with Drikus barring any mechanicals

I agree, I'd place my money on Drikus and Jenny.

Hoping we get a podium battle between Drikus, Willie, Hansie and Thinus.

[JohanDiv]

And they're off!!

Edited November 29, 2023 by JohanDiv

[JohanDiv]

https://fb.watch/oCPZ-TWJzk/

 

 

[Shebeen]

1 hour ago, JohanDiv said:

I agree, I'd place my money on Drikus and Jenny.

Hoping we get a podium battle between Drikus, Willie, Hansie and Thinus.

can you remind us plebs here. who has podiumed (or top5) previously and riding this year?

[peetwindhoek]

1 hour ago, JohanDiv said:

I agree, I'd place my money on Drikus and Jenny.

Hoping we get a podium battle between Drikus, Willie, Hansie and Thinus.

An hour and a half in and you almost got it 😀

From the ladies side, Nicky must be a contender too!

[JohanDiv]

16 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

can you remind us plebs here. who has podiumed (or top5) previously and riding this year?

Martin Fryer won last year, Hansie third. Hansie won 2020.

Thinus Redelighuys "won" with Benky in that kumbaja year.

Willie Smit is new but has solid racing pedigree and started the Smurfy500 events..so he loves these long distances.

Drikus is also new, but an endurance gravel specialist from Nam and has basically won everything over 300km he has entered in the last couple of years, including 36One in record time.

Chris van Zyl was third in the year Ramses set the 50hr record.

[W Smith]

15 minutes ago, peetwindhoek said:

An hour and a half in and you almost got it 😀

From the ladies side, Nicky must be a contender too!

What happened to Chris Van Zyl ? He appears to be off course.So early in the race.Hope he gets back asap.

[Shebeen]

3 hours ago, JohanDiv said:

I agree, I'd place my money on Drikus and Jenny.

Hoping we get a podium battle between Drikus, Willie, Hansie and Thinus.

@LarryMTB will say that I can't have an opinion here with my zero munga finishes, but I'm not convinced this rapier is going to handle a karoo gunfight.

 

Edited November 29, 2023 by Shebeen

[peetwindhoek]

5 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

@LarryMTB will say that I can't have an opinion here with my zero munga finishes, but I'm not convinced this rapier is going to handle a karoo gunfight.

 

This is the dot that I will be following the most, very interested to see where/if he finishes! I know he has done some mental things like Everesting on Zwift in lockdown. And based on all the other bikes, it does look like it would be one of the harder rides. 

[JohanDiv]

Drikus is not waiting for anyone! Already 10km up the road from Thinus, Hansie and Willie in 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Looks like they are more or less sticking together for now.

[Shebeen]

1 minute ago, JohanDiv said:

Drikus is not waiting for anyone! Already 10km up the road from Thinus, Hansie and Willie in 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Looks like they are more or less sticking together for now.

I didn't realise it, but whole race is draft legal now. seems like a good idea to ride in a bunch whilst everyone is fresh.

but as @LarryMTB would point out, as a zero time munga finisher, what would I know?

 

 

 

[peetwindhoek]

https://themunga.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/The-Munga-Race-Rules-2023_Jan.pdf.
 

Would drafting become part of the podium contenders tactics? Sure it is a moerse long distance and if anything happens they wont wait for each other. But if they draft a decent distance, it should stand in their favour come hour 50.

[TyronLab]

58 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

I didn't realise it, but whole race is draft legal now. seems like a good idea to ride in a bunch whilst everyone is fresh.

but as @LarryMTB would point out, as a zero time munga finisher, what would I know?

 

 

 

Wish I had some slap chips to go with all of the salt in this post...

I think drafting is going to really come into play in the Tankwa with the infamous headwind. Interesting racing!

[hboli4]

Personally I don't think the contenders will use drafting as tactic or if they do only until the first RV. It is then that strategy comes into play i.t.o. how long to stop/rest/eat if they indeed plan to do so and if you wait on someone else it can hurt your race. 

I'll be the first to offer the old cliche - Sutherland is halfway...

[Zeffer]

My money is now on Jack Black

 

[JohanDiv]

Sho Drikus now ahead of Ramses record pace!