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The 11th edition of Asia’s premier MTB challenge, the Hero MTB Himalaya is set to flag off on the 27th of September, 2015. The race, which takes place with the scenic Himalayas in the background, is one of the toughest mountain bike races in the world. From just 30 riders in the first edition back in 2004 to being one of the most sought after races in the world, we give you 5 reasons to follow the Hero MTB Himalaya.
#1 Terrain
The cross country race gives riders a chance to ride trough the interiors of the Himalayas and hike through the deep forests while experiencing nature all around them. The terrain consists of single tracks, forest tracks, jeep roads all in one single stage each day. With gutwrenching uphills and spiralling downhill, the race will touch a maximum height of 3400 metres above sea level. Cyclists are expected to pedal about 70 kilometers a day with climbs close to 2000m.
Himalayas - the world’s highest mountains, offer the world’s best and diverse terrain which no other race in the world does. The riders will be soaking in the natural trails, Himachal Pradesh’s beauty, culture and a lot more during their journey.
#2 Route
This one-of-a-kind race commences in Shimla and passes through Gadakuffar, Khegsu, Kullu Sarahan, GadaGushaini, Luhri before the riders chart the route back to Shimla in a loop route system. The best part about this race is that it takes place with the lofty and beautiful peaks of the world’s highest mountain range – the Himalayas, widely considered as one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
The snow-capped moutain peaks, lush greenery, swift rivers, dense forests, century old temples and the local culture make this race unique. The riders get to experience a lot of sight-seeing while going through spine-chilling adventures.
#3 Presence of top cyclists
The cross-country endurance race has seen about 1,200 people take part through its first 10 editions. Riders from faraway countries like USA, Austria and Germany mingle with the local cyclists and riders from neighbouring Nepal and Bhutan. The likes of Cory Wallace and Sonia Lopez, who won the 2014 edition in their respective categories have graced the event with their presence.
A large number of local participants from the Indian Army Adventure Wing, Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and Army Training Command have started taking part in the challenge. The 2015 edition has received confirmation from a number of high-profile international cyclists. Siegrid Bever who rides a Specialized Stump Jumper, Steven Pauwels who rides a Trek Elite 9.9, both from Belgium and Antonio Ortiz, who won the TransAndes Challenge 2015, will be riding this year apart from a lot of other national cyclists. Moreover, this year’s edition will see 6 female cyclists – the highest ever.
#4 Difficulty
The race covers a span of 550 km in a total of 9 days on treacherous paths, 3400m above sea level. The terrain that mainly consists of sand, gravel and loose rock proliferated with rugged patches puts the riders skills to test, especially with the frequent as cends and descents.
Hero MTB Himalaya is considered as the 3rd toughest mountain biking race in the world. Due to it’s difficulty, Hero MTB Himalaya attracts many top cyclists, who pit themselves against the best in the world while enjoying the beauty of the Himalayas.
#5 Competitiveness and diversity
This mountain bike race is extremely competitive and is a race which prides itself on diversity. Hero MTB Himalaya attracts participants from all sorts of backgrounds. One of their participants this year is the famous cyclist, Reimund Dietzen, who is a former participant of the famed Tour de France. The 56-year-old Vuelta de Espana winner admitted that this race, Asia’s oldest MTB race, will be extremely tough and one he is looking forward to conquer.
Moreover, people from non competitive-cycling backgrounds also take part. Participants include cycling enthusiasts from IT backgrounds, business professionals and many other industries. All this combines to make the race an extremely unique concept.
