Another proud, historic Munga win for Drikus

Cycling
The champion had set out to win the ultra-race again, while keeping himself as fresh as possible for this coming weekend's solo effort in the Nedbank Deseret Dash.
Tielman Van Lill
  • 2 Days Ago 02 December 2024
Namibia’s Drikus "The Machine" Coetzee made history by becoming the first cyclist to win the brutal The Munga ultra mountain bike marathon back to back in its ten years existence when he crossed the finish-line at 18:30 on Friday.

Drikus tackled The Munga over 1 132 kilometers from Bloemfontein in the Free State to Wellington in the Western Cape for the first time in 2023. He smashed the previous record (50 hours 30 minutes in 2018) of Dutch cyclist Ramses Bekkenk and set a new mark at 47:37.

On Friday afternoon, after an incredible 54 hours and 36 minutes of grit, determination and relentless effort, Drikus crossed the finish line as the official winner again.

The 31-year-old Namibian became the first-ever rider to win The Toughest Race on Earth, from Bloemfontein to Wellington, for two years in a row.

Yes, he was a lot slower in comparison to last year’s achievement. But he did not travel to South Africa to chase his time record, but solely to defend his title successfully.

“I did not chase my Munga record. My aim was to become the first rider to win The Munga twice in a row. The wind was blowing relentless from the front and made it a huge challenge for all the riders.”

Coetzee was in the lead for most of the race, but then he briefly got lost near Ceres early Thursday morning. Organisers decided to apply a one-hour time penalty due to a “short but crucial part of the route” that he missed.

With 86 km left to the finish-line at the Doolhof Wine Estate, Drikus had to sit out an one hour time penalty while his competitors closed in on him. After he had built up a lead by 38 km, his lead shrunk to just 5 km in front of Marco Martins in second place.

However, the Namibian’s determination and willingness to test the boundaries of fitness are already the stuff of legends. With Namibian pride at stake, The Machine displayed his guts by upping his pace to beat Martins by 2 hours 15 minutes to the finish line.

Marco Martins (RSA) clinched second place in 56:45, while Franso Steyn (RSA) ended third in 59:18.

About the Nedbank Desert Dash – 401 km from Windhoek to Swakopmund this coming Friday – Drikus said: “Unlike last year when I rode in a four-man team for Indongo Toyota, on Friday I will tackle the Nedbank Desert Dash in the solo division. I really want to reach the Dash podium.”

Pierre Lambert was the second Namibian to finish the ultra distance (overall 14th), after three days 03 hours 36 minutes. Nabil Robiati’s finishing time was 3 days 22 hours 22 minutes, while Francois Smith did it in 4 days 01 hour 01 minute and Leonard Martin from Walvis Bay completed the race in 4 days 02 hours 59 minutes.

– [email protected]