Prawn Run - 17th of July 2010

What is a Prawn Run?


a) People dressed up as prawns running down the street?


b) What you do after eating bad prawns?


c) A cycle fun ride between Nelspruit and Maputo?


Well, it may be all three, but the one I’m going to talk about is C. The Prawn run is an informal annual cycle fun ride starting in Nelspruit and White river, coming down to the SA/Mozambique border, and then on from Ressano Garcia to Matola. This year it will take place on Saturday the 17th of July. Riders can choose any of three groups to cycle with (slow, medium and fast) so all levels are catered for. Both road cyclists and MTB'ers are welcome to participate. A rest stop is planned at the halfway point at the Moamba Toll plaza. From there it's on to the Tio Manel Restaurant (firing range just before the Mozal Aluminium smelter) where lunch will be served. We assume that prawns at some point will be consumed.


The Maputo Cycle Club will meet the visiting cyclists at 9am at the Ressano Garcia School and pedal fast and furiously back with them towards Maputo. The distance of the Mozambican leg of the Prawn Run is about 75km of slightly descending undulating terrain so it’s more than likely going to be a sprint finish for the racing snakes. Richard Fair has kindly organised a transport for the Maputo Cyclists, whereas the SA crowd will be accompanied by their support vehicles along the route. We expect to have some interesting photographs of this event shortly. Till then… avoid eating bad prawns!

Tour de France Madness

So, the 2010 Tour de France has started. The Grand Boucle as it is known will keep us enthralled during the next three weeks. What impresses is the sheer size of the pelloton. Today's stage (1) was won by Alessandro Petacchi in one of the most formidable accelerations in a sprint that I have ever seen. This guy has legs. Mark Cavendish, the up yours fellow, crashed in the final corner before the straight, and another crash blocked off most of the pelloton as they approached the finish. The front group containing most of the remaining sprinters had another crash just before the finish taking out a few other riders.. So it was not a conclusive victory. However, methinks the Mad Max's day's in the Tour de France won't be easy. Top notch effort Alessandro.
As for the yellow jersey, that remains firmly on the shoulders of Mr Motorino, Fabian Cancellara. He was caught behind the main peleton crash, so strolled in to maintain his yellow, seeing as all cyclists within the 3km get the same time. Tough luck (or rather bad tactics) by Wylands, who lead the breakaway for the whole 220km's of the stage, and got caught in the final 10km's.... A case of hubris and wanting to win in front of his home crowd. I can't blame him for trying, as it was a massive effort, but the tour is made of 21 stages, and it looks like this one wil have taken the toll of 3. The Belgian wantend to waft up the podium to shake big Mercx's hand. Alas, they will take him back to his hotel room in a wheelbarrow. So close..

An aside.. I am quite curious to see how this Tour compares to the Giro. I was very satisfied with this year's Giro, with it's share of thrills and spills. Will the Tour offer the same? I must say it's also very rude that the California thingamy (I struggle to call a 6 stage race a "tour") was sheduled at the same time as the Giro. Very bad form on the part of the americans. No respect. But then again the americans have very little respect for anyone else. There, I've done it.. offended a whole nation. Excuse me, but in cycling you have a lot to learn, and not much to offer (just yet). We hope the next edition is scheduled at a more convenient time, and shows off some of the beautiful mountains that exist in America.

So back to the tour. The big players are quiet for now. Next stage another flat one for the sprinters. Then some cobbles. That should be interesting. Let's see what Mr Motorino does!

Night riding

Night
Pools of light
Trees on fire with sound
The whirring of wheels
Dawn approaches
from the dark


Thoughts that popped into my head as I cycled solo this morning along Maputo's wet streets. I am more and more enjoying these solo rides.