New kid on the MTB block: Namib Quest

PDF | Print | E-mail

Thursday, 19 May 2011 08:25

User Rating: / 1
PoorBest 

Riders get more than they bargained for in Namibia

by Docta Gonzo

There's a new kid on the MTB block. A true Namibian wild child and judging by its first steps, this baby is bound to grow into a mean street fighter. With a name like Windhoek Lager Namib Quest Challenge, what else can be expected?

The baby from the land of the oldest desert in the world threw his nappies away on 1 May and took its first outing through the Namibian Highlands and all the way to Walvis Bay in six unforgettable days of mountain biking that most people can only dream of. Even hardcore riders that think they have experienced it all. Just ask Mannie Heymans, Namibia’s most experienced and coveted cyclist ever. He is not known as ‘Mister African’ for no reason: he has won the Cape Epic, the African MTB Championships three times, and he is better known in Europe for his outstanding achievements than in his home town.    

Only 21 riders mustered up the courage to saddle up for the inaugural Namib Quest from 1 to 6 May, but after their unique experience, it is inevitable that this grueling stage to stage race is set to become a world class event. Heymans was beaten by his Garmin/adidas team mate from South Africa, the up and coming 23-year-old Francois Theron, by only 13 seconds. Six days in the saddle saw those trekking over some of the most daunting terrain the Namibian Highlands have to offer. On top of that, they witnessed the best rainy season ever recorded in the usually arid landscape, doing more river crossings every day than Crocodile Dundee did in his entire life. And the competitors climbed hills where only baboons with walking sticks have ventured.

On top of every one of these mammoth mountains, steep and extremely technical downhills awaited them that took the riders on jaw-shaking descents at ridiculous speeds. Dropping down the Highlands on day four, two more stages had to be dealt with on the open planes of the Namib Basin. Although flat, they were far from easy after unusual rainfall had turned them partly into mud baths. But the top gunners up at the front saw it as an ideal opportunity for a flat-out stage race and finished both stages with an average speed well above 30 km/h. The last stage of 116km took them through the Namib Naukluft Park, where only privileged people with special permits have set foot. While setting a blistering pace, they were treated to the odd giraffe crossing their path, while gemsbok and springbok lazily grazed on the horizon. Surely, a sight not to be forgotten soon...

The first stage of 89km was supposed to prepare the riders for what was to come. But then stage two threw some nasty obstacles at them. And then there was stage three. It started off as a crisp, windless and wet Tuesday morning with the promise that the Quest’s back would be broken that day. But after endless climbing on single and jeep tracks on beautiful farmlands and even the oldest mule tracks in the country, the Quest came close to breaking almost all the competitors’ backs. It was extreme; it was hair rising at some points, and for the rest it required a particular mind set to overcome the physical agony of negotiating those climbs and holding on for dear life on the descents.

It took its toll on components and human bodies alike. Derailleurs snapped, crank arms fell off; bottom brackets creaked and squeaked after an overdose of water while mud happily chewed away on chains. No wonder not everybody made it back to the overnight camp on their trusted steeds. JC Faul, an always fit Namibian with a MTB history that goes back some 20 years, saw the red lights flickering when he looked at his heart rate monitor. Some 233 beats p/m was enough to make him call it a day and say goodbye to the Quest. The end of the first stage also saw the first departure of the field of 21 riders. Mark Smith from Botswana threw in the towel when blisters on his feet made it impossible to ride any further. The blisters were a result of him running the previous week with wet shoes during an Ironman competition.

After that unforgettable stage three there were no more withdrawals. Heymans and Theron led from the start and their ding-dong battle saw a different leader after every stage. As team mates, they carried each other all the way, toying with riders like Ludwig Milherbe (third) and Heinrich Gildenhuys from South Africa (eighth), Johan Fourie of Namibia (fourth) and Paddy Murphy (fifth).
The Quest is the brainchild and unsettling inspiration of Tinus Hansen and Russell Paschke, owners of African Extreme Promotions (AEP). It didn’t happen as quickly as a mustard seed on steroids; Hansen and Paschke have been toying with the idea for almost three years. They realised Namibia had to come up with its own version of a tougher than nails MTB Challenge; one that would draw big names in the future. “It had to be tough and different than any other event. We have some of the most stunning scenery imaginable in the Namibian Highlands and the Namib, and what started off as just an idea, took root in our minds and eventually the Namib Quest came to fruition.

For some six months we did an unbelievable amount of scouting every weekend, and with the permission of all the farmers, we succeeded in presenting the first Quest. We have learned a tremendous amount from the inaugural race, and realise our shortcomings, but all in all, it went very well and we are convinced the Namib Quest is on the MTB map and set for big things to come. Ultimately, we would like to see some of the strongest MTB riders in the world taking on this exceptional race over terrain with breathtaking views, demanding climbs and technical rough stuff that are true challenges to each and every competitor.”