Hero MTB Himalaya, an eight-stage mountain biking challenge, to kick off from Shimla on September 28

Hero MTB Himalaya, considered to be among the toughest mountain biking challenges in the world, will kick off on September 28 from Shimla.

Organised by the Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association and Hero Cycles, the race will go on till October 7. The 13th edition of the race will see over 70 riders participating in it. The participants are divided into five categories – men (18-39), women, team of two, Masters (39-49) and Grandmasters (49-plus).

The riders will be covering a total distance of around 650 km across eight stages of the race with an excepted elevation gain of a around 16,500 m. The route for this season will be a little different from last year. The race will begin from Shimla and cover Little Lhasa and Dharamshala in the Himalayas, with several new off-road sections added.

“Mountain biking is still in its incipient stages in India and we are thrilled to see so many young riders go all out,” said Mohit Sood, president of HASTPA. “We will be once again taking the scenic route to Dharamsala and finishing the eight stage race there.”