Makadas Overland Challenge 307km report

On the 14th and 15th November, the Makadas Overland Challenge took place from Montague. This extreme mountain bike event is the longest single-stage mountain bike race in South Africa. It started in Montague at 8:00 on Saturday and the circular route, with stunning scenery, went out towards Touwsrivier, Anysberg and back to Montague. The total distance of the race was 307 km and included some “hiker-bike” sections. It was a self navigation “rally” style event, with 7 seconding stations. Two Somerset West cyclists, Dane Walsh and Julian Conrad competed in the event, and also used their participation in the race as a fund raising exercise to generate income for Altus Minnie, a Grade 9 Beaumont learner who recently underwent a heart procedure at Groote Schuur Hospital. Dane and Julian, riding as team “Altus Minnie” finished the event at 2:30 am Sunday morning, in a total cycling time of 18 ½ hours. They were the first team to finish, although the fastest cyclist was solo rider Fourie Kotze from Stellenbosch who finished is an awesome time of 16 ½ hours. This was an inaugural event and is being planned again for next year.

Julian