Event Background

The event started as a social ride amongst a few friends and was done over a 2 day period that included one night of camping.

The organisers then had the idea of turning this into a 24 hour race, so the next year saw the 1st organised event with 2-person and 4-person teams participating. Then some local idiot asked for a solo category...
NO, was the reply, can't be done in 24 hours.
His nagging eventually convinced the organisers and in 2006 five solo riders attempted the first solo event and, with the winning time of around 18 hours, realised it was possible!

This really sparked interest in the solo category which by 2010 had to be limited to 100 riders. The winning time of 12 hours 13 minutes set by Mannie Heymans in 2010 is also the current overall record including the 2-person and 4-person teams.

On a sad note the 2006 event will also be remembered as the year that Nico van der Merwe suffered a massive heart attack on stage 1 and passed away on-route to the hospital. He was part of a 4-person team from Wilderness Safaris, raising money for Children In The Wilderness.
R.I.P Nico.
Look out for his memorial on the right hand side of the road just before you start decending the Us pass.

Event Information

To complete the event your goal is to reach the finish in Swakopmund, which is 369km from the start in Windhoek, within 24 hours of starting.
Various categories cater for different levels of fitness and madness?
You can choose from 2-person or 4-person relay teams or pedal the full distance in a tandem or solo team.

The route is on graded gravel roads with short stretches of tar at the beginning and end.

Each team is allowed one support vehicle who will transport the team riders and provide assistance, food and water to the riders at the various checkpoints along the route

Please browse the rest of the website for more detailed information.