PEdAL ED (Kyrgyzstan) - Press Release: The PEdALED Silk Road Mountain Race is a fixed route, unsupported, single-stage cycling race through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The clock does not stop and prizes are not awarded. It will follow gravel, single and double track and old soviet roads that have long been forgotten and fallen into disrepair. There will be very little tarmac. There may be some walking and at times there will be great distances between resupply points.

The race starts on the 18th of August 2018 with a neutralized ‘grand départ’ from Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Riders will then follow a 1700 kilometer route that passes through three manned control points, where they will need to get a stamp in their brevet card, before finally heading to the finish line in Chong Kemin, a village 150 kilometers east of Bishkek, for a well deserved post-race beer or two. To earn a successful finish they need to complete the course before the 1st of September for the after party.

The race director and our Brand Ambassador, Nelson Trees, has spent over 6 weeks during the summer of 2017 on location scouting the roads. The entire route has been checked in person to ensure a continuous and safe race. Having cycled from Shanghai to Paris, Nelson traveled through Kyrgyzstan during his journey. After participating in three editions of the Transcontinental, Nelson felt inspired to create another race in a different part of the world. Having ridden in Kyrgyzstan, Nelson knew this part of Central Asia had all the qualities he was looking for. Taking inspiration from other ultra-endurance races such as the Tour Divide and Transcontinental, the rules are simple and largely self-policed. The rules attempt to embody the spirit of self-support and fairness for all riders.

A large portion of the route was ridden between June and July with a follow up scouting trip in September of 2017. The team has been extremely diligent in checking 100% of the route to be certain no problems arise. The race will be an adventure on a grand scale that will take you through some of the wildest areas of one the most stunning, untouched and desolate parts of the world. The setting is awe-inspiring but also extremely hard on those that dare to venture into it.

How tough it will be cannot be understated, but as Mike Hall once said, “Nothing that’s worth anything is ever easy.” This race will be a true demonstration of this sentiment.