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Hero MTB Himalaya enters its 11th edition this year and there's plenty of buzz surrounding the event which is less than a fortnight away. The race, which lasts 8 days covers a staggering 550 kms on the treacherous path across the Himalayas. It flags off from 27th September and culminates on the 4th of October.
The riders will pedal off from Shimla and return back to the city after reaching Luhri midway in the race. Here's the path the cyclists will be crossing:
Day 1 – Shimla to Gadakuffar (27 September)
The first stage would be a 75-km stretch (66 km competitive) from Shimla to Gadakuffar. The elevation is expected to fluctuate between 1500m and 2300m. The tough part of this stretch is that only 7km of the stage would be on tar road and the rest on gravel, mud and loose rock. The first 8 kms is a downhill ride while the final 18 kms would be a climb.
Day 2 - GadaKuffar to Khegsu (28 September)
On Day 2, the riders will ride from Gadakuffar to Khegsu. This small village in the state of Himachal Pradesh belongs to Kullu district. From Gadakuffar, the riders will set base at an elevation of a little over 2000m in this village.
Day 3 - Khegsu to Kullu Sarahan (29 September)
This day would be the most taxing for the cyclists as the distance from Khegsu to Kullu Sarahan is a massive 114 kms. The weather in Kullu Sarahan is expected to fluctuate from a high of 22 degrees celsius during the day to a low of 7 degrees celsius in the evening.
Day 4 – Rest Day (30 September)
Day 5 - Kullu Sarahan to GadaGushaini (1 October)
A testing start to the third day would see riders in ascent from the start before a downhill slope would greet them. The day would end at the mystic GadaGushaini, where the participants would set camp.
Day 6 – GadaGushaini to Luhri (2 October)
A 102-km competitive stage would see the riders reach Luhri during which the weather is expected to hover between 14-20 degrees Celsius. In a see-saw path, the participants would witness an elevation gap of nearly 1600m. The day would end with a camp beside the mystic Sutlej river.
Day 7 – Luhri to GadaKuffar (3 October)
After reaching Luhri, the cyclists would begin their journey back, starting with a 97 km expedition to GadaKuffar. After a lull 13kms, the competitive stage would start at an elevation of over 1300m, while this mostly escalating stage would reach a high of 2295m. After a downhill stretch of approximately 18 kms, the riders will sprint up the hill for the final 12 kms.
Day 8 – Gadakuffar to Shimla (4 October)
The final stage of the race would see riders move back to where it all started 8 days ago – Shimla. The initial 30kms would be a downhill stretch, before the riders would be forced to scale 900m up in a distance of 15 kms. The final 20 kms is a nearly flat path as the riders will end the race at a height of 2312m. The final campsite is situated 10 km from the finish line in Shimla.
