Bhutan is planning to host its first edition of the Asian Enduro Series in Punakha this year. Enduro is an off-road mountain biking sport, held on extended cross-country off-road courses. The event was supposed to be held last year but got postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Introduced just a decade ago, Enduro is relatively a new sport in the world. However, it has become one of the most popular disciplines in the mountain biking world today. Unlike other sports, enduro requires endurance, core strength and balance, bike handling skills, and self-reliance.
Born from the vision of His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, the Asian Enduro Series, the first of its kind mountain biking race in the country will now be held in the first week of December this year. However, considering the COVID-19 situation, entries of international riders are not confirmed yet.
“We don’t know how the COVID-19 situation will be this year but we are planning to organise the first edition of the Asian Enduro Series in the first week of December this year. We will try to entertain riders from outside if they are willing to come. But due to the pandemic, if we don’t have international riders, we will certainly have the race for our local bikers,” said Karma Samdrup, the Spokesperson of Madman Trails of Bhutan.
Although at a budding stage, the sport in the country is becoming quite popular especially amongst the youth. Excluding senior riders, in Thimphu alone, there are over 20 young riders today.
“We have lots of young riders who are showing interest in this sport. Likewise, we have lots of senior riders who are helping the young riders by donating money and buying bikes for the youth. For a single bike, it costs a minimum of Nu 200,000 to 300,000,” he added.
“Bhutan is a perfect place for mountain biking as it has lots of mountains and we have lots of trails that can be explored. I am planning to take part in the upcoming Asian Enduro Series to be held in Punakha this year. I have been practising for the event with my friends and senior riders and they have been giving me good guidance. Hopefully, I will be ready for the race on time,” said Binesh Thapa, an Enduro enthusiast.
“I have been training for the upcoming Asian Enduro Series for quite some time now. I cannot say that I have been training every day but I make sure that I train at least four times a week. If we frequently organise many of such events, then I think many more youths would also come up and take up the sport,” added Jigme Lobzang.
In such sports, riders have to race downhill and uphill for days. They are timed in various stages that are mostly downhill but can vary in steepness, length, and difficulty depending on locations. Riders also have to climb uphill and reach a point within a given duration of time. The win is ultimately claimed by those with the lowest final accumulative time.
The upcoming Asian Enduro Series is also expected to introduce and make Bhutan the next enduro destination in the world.
Passang Dorji
