130-km Himalayan Challenge, ₹8-Lakh Prize Purse Headline 13th MTB Shimla

Shimla, October 22: Riders from 20 cities will take on steep Himalayan climbs, forest trails and technical descents as the 13th edition of MTB Shimla rolls out from October 23 to 25, featuring a gruelling 130-km challenge, around 3,800 metres of cumulative climbing and a prize purse of ₹8 lakh.

Powered by HARTEX and organised by the Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA), the event will bring together cyclists, including nine national podium finishers, for a demanding test of endurance, technical ability and race strategy. Returning to its Cross Country Marathon (XCM) format, the competition will feature a prologue followed by two timed stages, with nearly 90 per cent of the course running off-road. Gravel bikes will be permitted for the first time.

Stage One, titled The Flight of the Pheasant, will be held on October 24 over 55 km, with 1,780 metres of climbing. Starting at Kufri Wildlife Sanctuary, the route will pass through Patgyaar, Talo ka Naal, Mundaghat, Tharol, Galu and Fagu before finishing at Dak Bangla.

The second stage, The Cedar Wreath, on October 25, will cover 48 km with 1,280 metres of climbing. Riders will start from Kufri Wildlife Sanctuary and travel through Charabra, Mashobra, Purani Koti, Kanda, Dak Bangla, Fagu and Bekalthi before finishing at Mashobra. The routes combine sustained climbs, narrow single-track trails, forest paths, jeep roads, rock gardens and stream crossings.

The ₹8-lakh prize purse will be distributed across six categories. The field spans a wide age range, with 11-year-old Shimla rider Kaarik Sharma as the youngest participant and 68-year-old Maheshwar Dutt as the oldest. Shimla will field 18 riders, while Bengaluru will be represented by six, alongside competitors from cities including Jaipur, Delhi, Leh and Guwahati.

Road safety will be a key focus of this year’s event. HASTPA and Royal Enfield Social Mission have partnered to promote safe riding, drawing on the Helmets for India initiative. Mehar Panwar, ASP Shimla, attended the press conference and emphasised the importance of helmet use, adherence to traffic rules and responsible road behaviour. She commended the organisers for integrating road safety awareness with sport and fitness, particularly for young riders.

Praveen from HARTEX was also present at the press conference, representing the brand powering this year’s edition.

Beyond the competition, HASTPA aims to use cycling as a platform for youth development, sporting excellence and tourism-led opportunities for local communities. Since launching MTB Himalaya in 2005 and MTB Shimla in 2012, the organisation has worked to strengthen India’s presence on the international cycling tourism map.

Held in association with Himachal Tourism, the event is supported by Royal Enfield, Radkaat, Big FM, SJVN, AU Small Finance Bank, HPDT and Pranah. The three-day competition is expected to showcase Shimla’s forest trails, mountain landscapes and rural routes while promoting cycling, fitness and responsible riding.