Greenstone resident does 1 100km in 120 hours during tough Munga
This was the second time Wheeler has completed the Munga – the first was in 2016
Greenstone resident Sean Wheeler (52) did his surname proud when he completed one of the world’s toughest mountain bike races, despite considerable challenges.
The final push for this head of sales for DHL Global Forwarding in Kempton Park was a hard one: he cycled for 25 hours straight, only stopping for short rests, despite a raw posterior and bad chest infection.
The Munga is an almost 1 100km single stage race across the middle of South Africa. It started in Bloemfontein on November 28 and competitors had only 120 hours to get to the finish line in the Cape Winelands.
Competitors have to carry all of their gear or purchase goods along the way. They may not accept outside help. There are, however, five race villages where riders can rest, eat and get mechanical assistance. There are also a number of water points, posted between 50 and 60km apart.
This was the second time Wheeler has completed the Munga – the first was in 2016. Both rides were in support of Rand Aid’s Thembalami Care Centre, which he says cares for his dad Mike with compassion and professionalism. This year, he raised R44 000 for the care centre.
Sean says he managed to cycle the 224km to the first race village, Vanderkloof Dam, before midnight on day one.
“I decided not to sleep once I arrived there. Instead, I refuelled and hit the trail again.”
He rode through the night and managed to get half-an-hour’s sleep at the next water point. It was then on to Britstown where he booked a room and slept for two hours.
The first 395km was done and dusted.
“Britstown to Loxton was an extremely tough 187km with soft sand and endless corrugations. It seemed that it was uphill all the way. I got myself into a zone though and kept pushing through.”
He arrived in Loxton just after 5am, having covered 597km in 41 hours and 11 minutes. After eating and having an hour-and-a-half sleep, he was in the saddle again, this time headed towards Sutherland.
After about eight hours, he arrived in Fraserburg.
“That 46km from Fraserburg to the water point before Sutherland was painful. My Garmin froze a number of times and I got lost, adding an extra hour to my race.”
When his Garmin indicated he should have arrived at the next water point, it was pitch dark.
“I lay next to my bike on the road and slept for 20 minutes before heading off again.”
Just 2km down the road he came across the water point. He slept there for three hours before heading for Sutherland at 3am.
“I arrived in Sutherland just after 9am. I almost quit. However, the medics gave me oxygen and checked my vitals. They suggested I rest and check with them before going out again.”
By 4.30pm, Sean had recovered enough to get going again. Unfortunately, his Garmin once again froze and he went 22km off course.
“All I could do was laugh and cry but I refused to give up. I made a decision I would not stop and sleep until I crossed the finish line. Meeting fellow rider Lazarus Mashishi along the way was really good as we pushed each other through the night and beat the bad weather across the Tankwa Karoo National Park.”
The pair descended the Ouberg Pass into the Tankwa, and then navigated two prominent climbs: Dagbreek Pass and Swaarmoed. Next up was the Highway through Hell: a dead-straight 60km stretch of road from Tankwa Padstal to the base of the climb.
“As I headed out of Ceres, a car pulled up beside me with a chap shouting encouragement and indicating I should pull over because he had some Coke and ice for me. It turned out that it was an old air force mate I had not seen for years.
“Lazarus and I worked our way over the 25km Bainskloof Pass and down to the Doolhof Wine Estate to finish the Munga at 5.30pm. I had done it… I had cycled from 4.30pm the day before without sleeping and I had conquered the Munga!
“What an incredible feeling it was to cross the line and have my daughter Kayleigh and her boyfriend Rassie and sister Tracy waiting for me. I thank all my family, especially my wife Chantal, and all my supporters for the massive encouragement they gave me.”
Apart from the R44 000 raised for Thembalami, Duram Smart Paint offered to paint any areas in the care centre that need a touch-up, and Build it Bedfordview will donate supplies for the centre’s vegetable garden. The bulk of the money donated was through the BackaBuddy platform, with Sean’s employer, DHL Global Forwarding, contributing R20 000.
