Once a season the small village of Mokubilo is buzzing. Normally just over one thousand people live here, but for a few days many young talents flock to the village from near and far. They are here to try their luck at getting noticed by a top division team. But much like a flock of migratory birds, a gunshot is heard, and they are all gone. Only a dust trail shows in which direction they have gone.
The dust cloud...
Read moreOnce a season the small village of Mokubilo is buzzing. Normally just over one thousand people live here, but for a few days many young talents flock to the village from near and far. They are here to try their luck at getting noticed by a top division team. But much like a flock of migratory birds, a gunshot is heard, and they are all gone. Only a dust trail shows in which direction they have gone.
The dust cloud disappears to the west; away from civilization and towards the Kalahari desert. The route goes straight west, no turns or hills to break the monotony. A few scattered huts and a diamond mine as the only signs, apart from the road, that people live in this area. A few attentive meerkats are the only spectators. A lone ostrich might bury its head in the sand because of all the commotion. But not a human in sight. After 169km the riders reach the finish line in Mopipi for a straight sprint on a wide road with not a turn in sight. Suddenly there is life again; the speaker narrating the sprint; the locals cheering and banging on the barriers; and most importantly, the talent scouts from the top division teams ready with a contract for the eventual winner.
The route itself might not look demanding, but that is very deceiving. To the north, the rider have the Makgadikgadi Pans, after which the race is named. This is a salt flat, or rather several connected salt flats, essentially a dried up lake. It is hard to describe how inhospitable a salt flat is. It is completely flat with no trees, so there are no obstacles for the wind. The salt absorbs all the moisture in the air making it extremely dry. Any water you find there is so salty, it can be dangerous just to touch it. To the south it doesn’t get much better for the riders, as that is the Kalahari desert, not exactly known for being hospitable. The route might not seem hard, but the surroundings are sure to make it a difficult race.
