At PHOTO JOURNEY, we have covered MTB Himachal for two years with daily broadcast and here comes a consolidated Photo Journey from MTB Himalaya 2012. None of these photographs are clicked by any of the core Travellingcameras. All these photographs are shared by HASTPA with relevant details about all 8 days. Let's check out more about the adventure fun from MTB 2012 !
Day
1
Total
Distance: 67km
Competitive
Stages: 3
Competitive
Distance: 41 km
Transport
Distance: 26 km
Total
Climb: 1350 meters
Day Route
·
Ridge
·
Oak
Over
·
Bedes
Chowk
·
Dhalli
·
Bakelthi
·
Sarog
·
Gada
Kuffar
Winner of the day
Position
|
Name
|
Timing
|
1
|
Narayan
Gopal
|
1:47:51
|
2
|
Aayman
Tamang
|
1:56:49
|
3
|
Richard
Mcdowell
|
1:57:18
|
Day Description
Hercules MTB Himalaya 2012 took off from
Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Around 75 mountain bikers were set off
on a 438km adventure, 3250 meters above sea level at the highest point, against
the backdrop of the majestic Himalayas. Organizers HASTPA, Himachal Tourism and
title sponsor, Hercules, joined forces for the 8th consecutive year
to roll out India’s finest mountain biking challenge with Hercules.
As the race was flagged –off from Shimla, the
race on that day was of 3 competetive stages with total KM of 41. The two
riders from Nepal (Gopal and Aayman) took lead of the pack right at the
beginning. Finally riders were accommodated at the first
campsite of the race at Gada Kuffer at the end of the day. Campsite was
surrounded by the pine forest accompanied by the Burn Fire. Riders were
enjoying the sip of Hot Tea/Coffee standing around the burn-fire before the
delicious dinner.
Day 2
Total
Distance: 69km
Competitive
Stages: 3
Competitive
Distance: 43 km
Transport
Distance: 27 km
Total
Climb: 1800 mtr
Day Route
·
Gada Kuffar
·
Matiana
·
Mohari
·
Sunpuri
·
Link Road
·
Jal
·
Tani Jubbad
Winner
of the Day
Position
|
Name
|
Timing
|
1
|
Narayan
Gopal
|
2:15:25
|
2
|
Aayman
Tamang
|
2:26:50
|
3
|
Richard
Mcdowell
|
2:37:25
|
Day Description
Day
2 starting from Gada Kuffar was the last day for Weekend Riders. It was a day
when one of the past winners of MTB Himachal Mr. Ramesh Chander Joshi left the
race because of the injury. At the end of the day all weekend riders were
transported back to the Shimla. Though the competitive section compromises of 3
stages for full riders only two competitive stages were counted for weekend
riders. As the final stage was uphill most of the riders were tired enough and
were transported to the Camp Site Tani Jubbad after 3rd competitive
stage.
Day 3
Total
Distance: 74km
Competitive
Stages: 3
Competitive
Distance: 48 km
Transport
Distance: 26 km
Total
Climb: 2052 mtr
Day Route
·
Tani
Jubbad
·
Banot
·
Noal
·
Datt
Nagar
·
Bridge
Over Sutlej
·
Bagipul
·
Kullu
Sarahan
Winner of the Day
Position
|
Name
|
Timing
|
1
|
Narayan
Gopal
|
1:33:04
|
2
|
Aayman
Tamang
|
1:40:31
|
3
|
Richard
Mcdowell
|
1:44:41
|
Day Description
Tani Jubbar
played host to the flag off of Day 3 of Hercules MTB Himalaya 2012. With the
weekend riders back at Shimla, the rest of the pack cycled a total of 73.7 kms,
out of which a staggering 46.6 kms was comprised the competitive stage of the
race for the day.
It
started with a heart-stopping downhill for 17.5 km. Gopal Narayan clocked the
best time followed closely by Aayman Tamang and Richard McDowell. The riders
then rode across the Sutlej after which they hiked to reach stage 2. This stage
was an up-hill in which Richard McDowell fought off close competition from
Gopal Narayan and Aayman Tamang to clock the best time.
Getting
to the third stage again involved a bike & hike section over a steep hill.
From here it was grueling up-hill to the camp at Kullu Sarahan, where the
riders got a much-deserved rest day.
Day 4
Rest Day
Day
Description
Day
4 of the race saw riders take a break at the breathtaking Kulu Sarahan, a
school ground turned into a campsite, with a view of a huge meadow against the
backdrop of pine forests and huge mountains,. At Kulu Sarahan, riders cleaned
the cycles, washed their clothes, trekked up to a waterfall, participated in Nati and of course got that much
deserved break from the relentless riding of the past couple of days.
Day 5
Total
Distance: 98 km
Competitive
Stages: 3
Competitive
Distance: 51km
Transport
Distance: 47 km
Total
Climb: 1587 mtr
Day Route
·
Kullu Sarahan
·
Bagi Pul
·
Panchal
·
Durah
·
Nitther
·
Amarbagh
·
Bahu
Winner of the Day
Position
|
Name
|
Timing
|
1
|
Narayan
Gopal
|
2:15:25
|
2
|
Aayman
Tamang
|
2:26:50
|
3
|
Richard
Mcdowell
|
2:37:25
|
Day Description
Day
5 comprised of a 98 km course, of which the competitive stretch was an
astounding 51 kms. From Kulu Saharan, riders pedaled their way down winding
roads to reach Bagipul. A few kilometers from there, riders took on Stage 2
from Panchal to Durah, a total of 34 kms. For the most part an uphill, asphalt
stretch, the route took them through more winding roads, before they took a
break for lunch at Durah, where they had
a magnificent view of the meandering Sutlej, many miles below.
Post
lunch, riders made their way from Nither to Amarbagh, for 3rd and
final competitive stage of the day.
From there, a ride to Bahu near Ami in Kulu District took them to the
campsite for Day 5.
Day 6
Total
Distance: 70km
Competitive
Stages: 2
Competitive
Distance: 49 km
Transport
Distance: 21 km
Total
Climb: 2530 mtr
Day Route
·
Bahu
·
Ani
·
Jalori Jyot
·
Jhibbhi
·
Gada Gushaini
Winner of the Day
Position
|
Name
|
Timing
|
1
|
Narayan
Gopal
|
3:03:39
|
2
|
Aayman
Tamang
|
3:19:24
|
3
|
Richard
Mcdowell
|
3:34:11
|
Day Description
Day
6 took on the MTB Himalaya from Bahu to Gada Gushaini, where riders pedaled
with all their might to get past the mighty Jalori Pass, the highest point of
the race, standing tall at 3,250 m. The close of Day 6 saw Narayan Gopal retain
the lead in 1st place, Aayman Tamang follow as he has through the race in 2nd
place and Richard McDowell, still chasing the Top 2 in 3rd place. The
campsite at Gada Gushaini at the end of Day 6 was quite unlike what riders had
experienced before. While the amenities and the service were as always
heart-warming, the weather on the other hand took a turn for the worse. With
night time temperatures hitting a low of -2 degrees, all riders ensured that
they were covered in multiple layers of clothes so as to keep themselves warm.
On waking up to race, some riders even found a thin layer of frost on their
bikes.
Day 7
Total
Distance: 62
Competitive
Stages: 2
Competitive
Distance: 51.2
Transport
Distance: 11
Total
Climb: 1169 mtr
Day Route
·
Gada Gushaini
·
Magru galla
·
Chattri
·
Bhayagi
·
Kalon
·
Kello Dhar
·
Craignano
Winner of the day
Position
|
Name
|
Timing
|
1
|
Narayan
Gopal
|
1:48:56
|
2
|
Aayman
Tamang
|
1:49:35
|
3
|
Richard
Mcdowell
|
1:50:57
|
Day Description
Day
7, 5th October took riders from Gada Gushaini to Khelo Dhar, via
Chhatri, a distance of 62 kms, of which 49 kms would be competitive. A quick
bike and hike section before the start of the day’s competitive riding set the
riders in motion. The first competitive stretch, a 20 km downhill on dusty
roads from Gada Gushaini, was truly a downhill rider’s paradise. From almost
any point in the road, once could see other riders cruising down the slopes on
the stretch of road above or below.
Lunch
followed at Chhatri near a stream that was spilling over onto to road, before
riders could take on the 2nd and final competitive section of the
day. From Chhatri they rode, using great strength at the uphill sections and
zooming past on the downhill section, all the way to Khelo Dhar 29 kms away.
From
Khelo Dhar to Craignano, riders got a respite. They loaded their bikes into
campers, before finding a seat for themselves and from here they were driven by
road to the final campsite of the race at Craignano
Day 8
Total
Distance: 32km
Competitive
Stages: 1
Competitive
Distance: 19km
Transport
Distance: 13km
Day Route
·
Craignano
·
Sadhoda
·
Kiarkoti
·
Charri
·
Kamiyana
·
Ridge Maidan
Winner of the Day
Position
|
Name
|
Timing
|
1
|
Narayan
Gopal
|
0:55:10
|
2
|
Aayman
Tamang
|
0:55:10
|
3
|
Richard
Mcdowell
|
0:57:26
|
Day Description
6th
October was the last and final day of the MTB Himachal 2012. It was only
another 31 kms before riders can make their way
back to Shimla. All they were needed to
do is persist and give it their best, to ensure that they get themselves a
podium finish. The race got finished at Shimla with a podium finish followed by
a Prize Distribution at the end of the day at the Ridge Shimla.
Prize Money
Category:
Open Men Solo
1st
Prize : 40000
2nd
Prize : 30000
3rd
Prize : 20000
Category:
Open Masters Solo
1st
Prize : INR 40000
2nd
Prize : INR 30000
3rd
Prize : INR 20000
Category:
Open Women Solo
INR:
40000
Category:
Team of Two
1st
Prize: 60000
Winners Open Men Solo
Name:
Narayan Gopal
Position:
1st
Country:
Nepal
Age:27
Total
Time: 13:38:31
Name:
Aayman Tamang
Position:
2nd
Country:
Nepal
Age:20
Total
Time: 14:27:35
Name:
Richard Mcdowell
Position:
3rd
Country:
United Kingdom
Age:33
Total
Time: 15:16:36
Winners Open Masters Solo
Name:
John Funk
Position:
1st
Country:
Canada
Total
Time: 17:51:03
Name:
Johan Bentinck
Position:
2nd
Country:
Netherlands
Total
Time: 19:44:49
Name:
Deplechin Andre
Position:
3rd
Country:
France
Total
Time: 21:07:15
Winners Open Women Solo
Name:
Monica
Country:
India
Age:
23
Total
Time: 29:39:28
Winner Team of Two
Name:
Fire HUB (Naresh Deb Barman + Shishir Karki)
Position:
1st
Country:
India
Total
Time: 34:18:31
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