Shange’s epic ride – talk about an unusual warm-up
He admits to having chosen to be an ultra-rider, and wants to carve out a name for himself in the most extreme facet of the sport.
Hundreds of MTB fanatics will converge on Underberg on the weekend of January 30 and 31 next year for the Euro Steel Drak Descent in partnership with FNB.
All will drive there. Except one. Few will notice the figure of Thubalethu Shange as he rides into the Southern Drakensberg town the day before race.
Hardly anyone will know that he has ridden 235 kilometres via Kokstad to get to the race, taking him 13 hours, simply because he doesn’t have the funds to afford to drive to the events he chooses.
That’s quite some warm-up.
His ideal event is tough. Like the notorious Munga and the Freedom Challenge that he has completed several times. But as he concedes with a smile, he doesn’t worry about adversity.
The 29 year old, who hails from the rural village of NdlovuZulu outside Port Shepstone candidly admits his whole life has been tough.
He admits to having chosen to be an ultra-rider, and wants to carve out a name for himself in the most extreme facet of the sport.
That’s why riding 500 kilometres to and from Underberg for a two day race totalling 90 kilometres doesn’t faze him.
Having raced the Euro Steel Drak Descent in 2019 and 2020 he is determined to return.
He has always struggled to fund his passion, Cadence Nutrition helps with his supplements and DCM helps with racing kit, and then he relies on generous individuals to help cover his costs to get to races and maintain his equipment.
And once the dust has settled on the two days of MTB action the well-heeled riders will leave Underberg with their bikes strapped to their cars, while Shange sets off back to Port Shepstone on his bike with a trademark grin on his face.
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