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Josh Ibbett Silk Road Mountain Race preview

We take a look at the course and standout riders for the inaugural Silk Road Mountain Race, starting August 18th in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and explore what it will take to win.

  • Website: silkroadmountainrace.cc
  • Location: Kyrgyzstan
  • Length: ~1,700km
  • Riders: 94
  • Last year’s winner: n/a
  • Terrain: Mixed

This Saturday the inaugural Silk Road Mountain Race kicks off in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and should be a very different event to those races we have become accustomed to following here on DotWatcher.cc. With such a big, unknown adventure afoot, we're excited to see what happens.

Starting and finishing near Bishkek, at an altitude of 800m, the race follows a route through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan over 1,700km of gravel, single and double track, and old soviet roads that have fallen into disrepair. As well as the variable state of the roads themselves, there’s notably over 26,000m of climbing at altitude that’s likely to require some hike a bike, as well as the sheer remoteness of the country itself. At Checkpoint 2, near the Chinese border, there’s almost 400km of road without prospect of resupply. Here, true self-reliance will be paramount, and riders have SOS functions built into their SPOT trackers.

There are numerous high altitude passes over 4,000meters, with the vast majority of the route over 2,000m. As such, altitude sickness is a real danger for those not acclimatised, and self-preservation will be key with very few medical facilities available on the route. Planning when and where to sleep or push on over high passes will be essential, for both safety and optimum recovery.

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Food will also be scarce at times with long sections with no resupply. Water should be available as long as riders take appropriate filtering and treatment equipment however it will be important to always carry a good food cache to ensure good energy levels are maintained. High altitude and low energy could result in poor decisions being made, the consequences of which could be accentuated by the remoteness.

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Tarmac roads will be few and far between on the race route, with the vast majority of the roads and trails being made of gravel. Those expecting smooth gravel roads will be in for a shock though, as many of the Soviet-built and time-forgotten mountain roads are simply a mess of rock and sand. The risk of puncturing is very real, particularly if narrower tyres are used, so of course wider MTB tyres have been employed by many, not least for the extra grip and comfort. Race director and founder Nelson Trees reckons that the ideal bike is “probably a rigid 29er with at least 2.0 inch tires”, but that a rider “would also be OK on a modern gravel bike with 650b and 2.0 inch tires”.

Despite being the first edition of the race, a field including the likes of Lee Craigie, Jay Petervary, and Björn Lenhard (recently 2nd place at the Transcontinental Race) will be competing. While there are 12 days between the race start and after party on September 1st, it’s anyone’s guess as to how quickly the first rider will complete the course.

This race will be won by the most consistent and sensible rider. It's going to be about survival. No spares will be available, so riders will need to be self sufficent and carry the right tools, spare parts, and nutritional supplies, to get themselves out of trouble should it arise.

Yes, pedalling strength will be key, but survival skills and sharp wit will make the real difference in this race - at the front of the field, and at the back.

Good luck to every rider from Dotwatcher.cc! Ride hard, enjoy the views, and stay safe.

If you would like to get in touch email us at info@dotwatcher.cc

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