Since Monday, they have been trekking towards the Himalayan district of Manang via a circular route. They are scheduled to reach Chame on the second day of Monday and Manang on the third day.
We use Google Cloud Translation Services. Google requires we provide the following disclaimer relating to use of this service:
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, expressed or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.
The 18th edition of the world's most difficult and high-altitude mountain bike race, 'Yak Attack', has begun on the Annapurna Circuit from Monday. 28 cyclists from 11 countries are participating in the competition organized to establish Nepal as an international adventure tourism destination.
Mountain Biking World Wide Limited, UK, is organizing 'Yak Attack-2026' and is managed by Mountain Biking World Wide Pvt. Ltd. Nepal. 21 foreign and 7 Nepali cyclists are participating in the multi-day competition. Among the foreigners, 5 male athletes from India, 3 foreign women and 1 Nepali female athlete are competing. 2 foreigners are above 60 years of age.
Last year's winner Khushiman Gharti Magar and Dr. Bikash Parajuli of Dhulikhel Hospital have also participated in the competition. Participants have come from Nepal, India, Ireland, Germany, UK, Austria, Brazil, Sweden, Israel and Spain.
According to competition manager Ajay Pandit Chhetri, the athletes will cover a distance of about 250 kilometers. Under the first stage of the competition, the cyclists have covered about 30 kilometers on Sunday, descending from Chandisthan Makaidanda via Besisahar-Pumagaun-Baglungpani-Najre in Lamjung and returning to Besisahar.
Since Monday, they have been ascending towards the Himalayan district of Manang via a cycle trail. On Monday, the schedule is to reach Chame on the second day and Manang on the third day. On the fourth day, they will rest in Manang village. On the fifth day, they will pass through the Thorangla foothills and on the sixth day, they will cross the Thorangla Pass, which is considered one of the highest Himalayan passes in the world at an altitude of 5,416 meters, and descend to Kagbeni in Mustang. On the seventh day, the competition will end after reaching Kalopani. The closing ceremony will be held in Pokhara on May 31 (Jestha 17), said Gyanendra Sthapit, the coordinator of the race. The first placer in the men's and women's categories will receive 75,000 rupees, the second placer 50,000 rupees, and the third placer 20,000 rupees.
The 'Yak Attack', which started in 2007, was initially a competition that included both trail running and mountain biking. But with the growing attraction towards bicycle tourism in the Himalayan region of Nepal, it was developed into a full-fledged multi-day mountain bike race from 2009, said the manager, Pandit Chhetri, who is also a cyclist. In the early days, he even became a runner and won.
'Yak Attack' is considered one of the toughest mountain bike races in the world because it involves climbing steep climbs, narrow paths, mountainous trails, and high-altitude dangerous routes. According to the organizers, the competition is not only limited to sports but is also linked to the promotion of Nepal's tourism, culture, and local communities.
