Hero MTB Himalaya - From humble beginnings to worldwide acclaim

India's premier international mountain biking challenge – Hero MTB Himalaya – is in its 11th edition. It has come a long way from the inaugural race which took place in 2005! The annual race, which takes place on the world's highest mountain range – the Himalayas, is a unique mountain bike race and attracts riders from all over the world.

In the 11th edition, 42 foreign riders are expected to take part, who will be coming from far away countries like Australia, Canada, United States of America, United Arab Emirates and more. Participants from neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bangladesh will also add to the mass participation in the event. 88 Indian cyclists will be featuring in the 8-day cycle trek while the participating fees for the 5 Nepali riders has been waived off in light of the devastating earthquake that rocked the nation early in the year.

The first edition, back in 2005, saw just 20 riders participate in this cross-country endurance event which has seen participation grow exponentially over the past decade. With nearly 150 participants this year, this is one of the fastest growing mountain bike races in the world.

Within just 10 years, it has established itself as one of the toughest races as well. It is touted as the third most difficult race in the world due to the terrain, the weather and the quality of participants in the race.

The Hero MTB Himalaya, which is sponsored by Hero Cycles, has also been at the heart of the increase in tourism in the state of Himachal Pradesh. The event is organized by Himachal Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA), who have done a stellar job in making the race a premier event.

The route of the 11th edition follows a loop where the race begins and ends in Shimla while passing through Kullu, Gudagushaini, Gadakuffar and Luhri across the state. However, it must be noted that the first 5 editions commenced from Shimla before culminating at Manali.

Starting without any category in the first season, the race is now divided into 4 categories:

1. Open Men's Solo
2. Open Women's Solo
3. Open Masters (over 40 years of age) Solo
4. Teams of two riders

The race has constantly evolved over the years with the organizers working hard to make sure the “lesser exciting” aspects are ironed out and the thrill remains the same. And it must be said that HASTPA are doing a commendable job as Hero MTB Himalaya is one of the most sought-after mountain bike races in the world now.

“Our dedication has remained the same over the years”

HASTPA HR Head Anil Saunkhla shed light on the changes the race has undergone over the years saying, “One thing that has been constantly changing since inception is our degree of learning from our day to day experiences.

“We have done away with the lesser productive methods and our empowered new team is yielding better results. There is renewed enthusiasm to do a good job better,” he continued.However, despite 10 years already, the dedication of the organizers has not waived. Anil Saunkhla said, “One thing that has remained the same through the years is our dedication towards making the event an overall success. Though we all come from different walks of life, we all unite for the event and work tirelessly as a team to ensure that the rider is always the first priority.”

In just 10 years, Hero MTB Himalaya has made it to the elite races of mountain biking and it is extremely exciting to think how much more progress the event can make in the future.

With over 1200 riders taking part in the 10 years of the race's existence, it is safe to say that Hero MTB Himalaya is here to stay and will keep on improving as the years go by. Here's thanking the organizers for coming up with this unique race and hoping for many more editions.