THE GREAT HIMALAYAN ULTRA

The Great Himalayan Ultra Race is the World’s highest Ultracycle race. A 600km road race starting and finishing in Leh, Ladakh. Comprising solo and relay team categories, all racers in all categories must have a support vehicle and crew.  Solo is a RAAM Qualifier for racers, finishing within the cut-off will qualify for The Race Across America. The Relay team category is RAAM style. The Races are also on the Ultramarathon Cycling (UMCA) calendar.

In the 3rd Edition 2021, a 444 KM Self Supported race will be conducted from Leh-Kargil and back. 

Race Details

• Location – Leh, Ladakh – 3500 Mt (11500ft) above sea level
• Start Date – 11th Sept 2021 
• Solo RQ and Relay Team – 600 KM
• Solo Self Supported – 444 KM

Detailed Event Schedule

• 10 days before Race Start – Mandatory Reporting for Racers for Acclimatization
• 5 days before Race Start – Mandatory Reporting for all Crew for Acclimatization
• Day before – Race Inspection, briefing

Watch the film of the Great Himalayan Ultra

LADAKH CALLING!!

Inspire India brings you the world’s highest Ultracycle Race… With a start point elevation higher than any point on any Ultracycle Race in the world!

Being a High Altitude Race, all racers will be required (mandatory) to report in Leh 10 days before race start. While this is for us to establish that racers get the bare minimum acclimatization, it is highly recommended that racers arrive 12-14 days in advance to ensure that they acclimatize satisfactorily. This is particularly necessary if racers are flying directly into Leh. Option is to reach Srinagar or Manali and drive to Leh, in order to have a slower transition to high altitude.

Race Route

600 KM RQ Route Map – https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27274410

444 KM SS Route Map – https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27845323

The Route in brief – The race starts from Leh a well known high altitude travel destination in Ladhak. The region is a high altitude desert which almost shuts down for over 6 months of the year. From Leh the race heads first to Thiksey (on the Manali Highway) to turn around, and head back up north-west to Kargil on NH1 to Srinagar. The Road to Srinagar is a well maintained and incredibly scenic route going past the Lamayuru Monastry and over 2 high passes. For the RQ the turn point is at Dras, the second coldest inhabited place on the planet, and for the 444 KM the turn point is at Kargil. The race returns over the same passes to Leh and in fact has a higher elevation gain while returning. The 600 km race has an elevation gain of 10350 mts and the 444 KM has 8300 mts. The highest point of 4100 mts at Fotu La.

Solo and Relay Team category Race, fully supported by crew and vehicles, time trial style ultra race, similar to The Deccan Cliffhanger by Inspire India.

Format, Categories And Timings

600 KM – SOLO RAAM Qualifier

Given the high Altitude of the race the format will be a little different from the usual non-stop time-trial format. There will be a mandatory 3 hour rest halt for all racers and teams at a designated location.

SOLO is just that…. Solo! Solo racers ride the entire distance, while their crew provides them with full support. Categories and Timings are based on Racing Age and Gender. Racing Age is the age each Racer will turn during the calendar year of the race (year of race minus birth year). Solo Racers at The Great Himalayan Ultra Qualify for The Race Across America if they finish within the RQ timings.

Categories and Timings are based on Racing Age and Gender. Racing Age is the age each Racer will turn during the calendar year of the race (year of race minus birth year). The Ride option is for riders attempting to ride The Great Himalayan Ultra solo, who do not complete within RQ timings. All riders who complete the route within their time limit of 48hrs will receive the Finisher’s Award, but will not be qualified for RAAM.

*RQ – Is the RAAM Qualifier timing as listed above.

600 KM – RELAY TEAM

The team event is a relay, not a peloton of 2, 3 or 4 members. Team members take turns riding, while other/s rest in the support vehicle and move up the road. Teams have the freedom to decide how often you swap riders, how long each member rides and how much distance each covers.

If Rider A is cycling, the support vehicle will position the next rider B, with her/his cycle up the route. B will wait for the A to come right up to that point, and overlap cycles, before starting to ride. A will stop, put bike on car and vehicle will follow B and move up to the next exchange point.

Categories and Timings (Tentative) are based on Team Age and Gender. Team Age is the average racing age of all Team members (total number of years divided by 2,3 or 4 depending on team size). Racing Age is the age each Racer will turn during the calendar year of the race (year of race minus birth year).

• Gender
• All Men
• Mixed – at least 1 member is Male and 1 Female.
• All women

444 KM – SELF SUPPORTED

Solo SELF SUPPORTED Category (ie without crew support) is not a RAAM Qualifier. Briefly this race format is a Stage Race, Bike Packing style but with Drop Bag and night halt provided. No support vehicles, no crew and minimal support from race organisers requires that racers be will prepared for all weather conditions, mechanical issues and fully self reliant!

222Km each day to be covered in 16 hours from 5am-9pm with a night halt at turn point. On the way out there will be a Hard Cut off at 1pm will be strictly imposed at Lamayuru (115km) to prevent a descent in the dark. On Return a Hard Cut off at 2pm will be strictly imposed at Fotu La (88km).

There will be a second cut off each day at 5:00pm, or nightfall. Race Officials will judge the ability of the participant to reach Kargil or Leh before 9pm and take a spot decision.

Rules & Regulations

Guiding principles

• Safety of all persons involved
• Running a Clean and Healthy race with a level playing field for all
• Creating a Race of International standards
• Protecting Race integrity and reputation