Munro Claims Series Title With His Win
At The MTN 50 Miler In Hilton

Race Report : Advendurance Media

Bryce Munro (DCM) proved that he is one of South Africa's best "jugglers" when he won the marathon-race (75Km) of MTN's Hilton 50 Miler-event.

Since 16 October Munro had to juggle his time between studying and training.

"Because I am writing the Cambridge matric-exams which is quite intense I have been spending more time behind my textbooks than on my mountainbike.

"It is not as if I really had a choice. I know what the consequences will be should I fail. I will be in really 'big s...'.

"Needless to say come race day I was a little bit worried because I was not sure whether or not I had the legs to race at my best. To win MTN's marathon-series overall I had to win."

"I was on the start line with all the usual suspects as well as David Leimann and Jan Withaar and a number of Natal racers, including Travis Walker 'a young up and coming rider'.

"It was quite a hot day with the temperatures soaring between 30 and 35 degrees which I suited me just fine as did the single track sections. It surely gave me a huge advantage.

"I was second into the first singletrack section just behind Travis and for the first 15 or so kilometres we raced together. Then I upped the pace a bit and Travis dropped off only David Leimann and Jan Withaar were able to  follow. 

"The three of us raced together until the start of the king of the mountains climb.

"Again I accelerated and I  managed to slowly and surely open a gap on them then I had to dig deep to make sure I stayed in front until the finish.

Leiman finished 2nd and Withaar 3rd.

Munro's has been quite impressive in the MTN-series, winning three of the seven races and finishing 2nd once.

By winning he has joined an elite group of riders who have managed to win two consecutive years in two different categories in the MTN-series.

Last year was the overall winner of the MTN MiWay half marathon-series.

Hilton is certainly Munro's happy hunting ground because last year he won the half marathon-race of the 50 Miler-event as well.

Photo credit: Zoon Cronje