24 Sep 2024

In recent years, the landscape of cycling sport has changed seemingly in the Mountain Bike (MTB) discipline with some riders partaking more on endurance cycling activities regionally. 

Some of the reputable endurance races riders continue to embark on are Race to the Sun and Race to the Sea, both in South Africa (SA) as well as the Nedbank Desert Dash in Namibia. 

Cycle4Life cycling club, an MTB club, would have 11 of its members participate at the Munga Grit in North West Province, South Africa on 27th September, doing 280 kilometres (km) of sand, gravel and hills for a basic 24 hours. 

The men, Victor Mlalazi, Maitseo Pelaelo, Ditirafalo Mosinyi, Jackson Ruwona, Kago Monamodi, Tshepiso Mmoloke, Ronald Tshwaane, Armstrong Mosimanegape, Kagiso Potongwane and Andrew Magashula will embark on the Munga Grit, which entails over 400km and 230km with both distances done in one stage, lasting for 50 hours and 24hours respectively. 

However, the team will only do the 24-hour route stage. 

“This is one of the most challenging races in Southern Africa, and it is not an easy challenge. We are motivated by the true test of self and living the mind over matter adage. 

We know the body will be tested extensively but the mind will want to win. And we apply this collaboration to get us through to the finish,” said Mlalazi, who is not a newbie on this challenge nor endurance races. 

Mlalazi was also part of the five men team that participated at last year’s Munga Grit alongside Monamodi, Potongwane, Mmokele and Tito Sebonego. 

Not many riders partake on endurance competitive cycling.

To be better at the competition, one needs a high level of discipline from nutrition to hydration as they prepare for the ride. 

Mlalazi said as a team, they engage on over 100kms gravel rides with times of six to nine hours of cycling, from Gaborone traversing the grit terrains of villages such as Kgope, Lentsweletau, Mahetlwe as well as Molepolole and also some parts of Moshupa. 

“This helps in testing the nutrition and hydration strategies that will be used at the race and give one a good base of saddle time,” he said,

He added that most importantly, it is recovery, which lets the body recover and repairs the damage done on the long rides. 

As this year’s team has newbies, Mlalazi’s advice to them is simply to be mentally prepared for a slow painful ride. 

“It is easy to think they can push their average to 30km/h, but those speeds do not exist at Munga. 

The new members should expect a sweaty dusty hill climb exercises of 2.5km long descent for 300m and more climbs of  1km, and they should also be prepared for the falls, especially in sandy patches,” he said. 

Moreover, he encouraged all the riders to test their potential and come out victorious at the end of the race. 

He said just like life with its ups and downs, also with endurance cycling one starts at the top and it is many challenges that one goes through that shape one’s dealings with life. Ends