YAK RU 2014 BEGINS!

 

Click here to view the full details of WINNERS and TIMINGS of Yak Ru Stage Race:

YAK RU LEADERBOARD

 

(We shall keep adding NEW videos here... so keep coming back!)

 

Watch our BRAND NEW Yak Ru Race Preview Video:

Watch our NEW Yak Ru Interview Video:

Watch our NEW Yak Ru Warm Up Ride and Race Briefing Video:

May 13, 2014

 

Today’s closing ceremony for Yak Ru race was held in Pokhara at the Mount Kailash hotel and it started at sharp 11:00 am.

 

Army CoAS General Gaurav Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana graced the occasion as the chief guest.

 

The Yak Ru organizers made a brief presentation showing two videos made during the course of Yak Ru race and a slide show of pictures of all 5 different race stages.

 

 

Towards the end was the prize distribution ceremony for winners and everybody who went on the route for this race.  Local media was present to cover the race closing. It was a brief ceremony that went very well.

 

For More Pictures of Day 10, visit our FB page here:

 

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May 12, 2014

 

 

The Yak Ru team has arrived in Pokhara and has checked in at Mount Kailash Hotel. Following their many –day-long trip into the heart of nature, all of the Yak Ru route trekkers and cyclists are excitedly catching up with the rest of the world.

 

The race closing ceremony shall be held tomorrow at 11:00 am with Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Gaurav Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana as the chief guest.

 

For More Pictures of Day 9, visit our FB page here:

 

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May 11, 2014

 

 

 

For More Pictures of Day 8, visit our FB page here:

 

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May 10, 2014

Korean rider Jaechun Woo (43 yrs), was Heli rescued from Thorang Phedi at 7:00 am today and taken to Grande Hospital in Kathmandu, where he was treated and monitered. Now, he is out of danger. 

 

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May 09, 2014

 

Yak Ru started from Manang today at 9:10 am. By 3:00pm, all the riders finished the race route and reached Thorang Phedi.

 

Bagging the first position today is again Ram Kumar Tamang at 1:46:02 seconds while Ngawang Dawa Sherpa is a very close second at 1:47:13 seconds. Himal Tamata finished at 1:58:07 seconds.

 

Our Korean rider Jaechun Woo (43 yrs), who finished last at 6:13:07 seconds,  is not feeling too well.

 

He is being attended by our doctor from the Grande Hospital, who is administering oxygen to him. His condition shall be monitored for the next 2 hours and we will see how it goes from here.

 

Everyone else is in an excellent state of health and spirits!

 

 

WINNERS for Stage 4, Day 6

For More Pictures of Day 6, visit our FB page here:

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For More Pictures of Day 5, visit our FB page here:

 

 

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May 07, 2014

Manang Stage 3

 

Yak Ru Annapurna Challenge ‘14

 

 

Yak Ru Stage 3 race started from Chame at 9:15 am. Riders scaled altitude quickly and reached Dhukkur Pokhari, well under 45 minutes. From there on they were on a jeep track as they went down to Pisang Village where they stopped for water.

 

From there they went right towards the village of Ghyaru on a trail that slanted all the way till it reached Ghyaru. It was a push/carry section along a winding trail.

 

Once they reached Ghyaru, they met with a stunning view of the Annapurna and Marshyangdi Valley.

 

It was a downhill single-track section from this point until they reached the finish line in Manang. Singaporean Wilson Low excitedly commented at the finish line,“This would have to be the best single track I have ever ridden anywhere on the planet!”

 

Everyone arrived safely at the finish line by 3 pm. Riders shall have a rest day tomorrow in Manang before they continue to the Thorang Phedi for Stage 4 of the Yak Ru challenge.

 

For More Pictures of Day 4, visit our FB page here:

 

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May 06, 2014

Yak Ru – Annapurna Challenge ‘14
Stage 2 – Chame

 

A beautiful overcast morning awakens riders at Bahun Danda. Riders were ready by 8:30am with their stomach full of porridge, fruit, boiled eggs and tea, all ready to conquer Stage 2 of the Yak Ru race. Race Director Chhimi U. Gurung flagged the riders off at 8:50am. Participants had to dismount from and carry their bikes the first five minutes, just as the race started. It was an easy but technical ride for the first 20 minutes till Lili Bhir. After that, the riders had to maneuver their bikes on a tricky stone staircase trail against the dramatic backdrop of Marsyangdi River.

 

Participants were expecting a long and arduous 45 km section today. It turns out; most of the fast riders really enjoyed the long uphill sections from Syange all the way up to the finish line at Chame. On the contrary, the slow riders really suffered the long uphill stretches.  Two Korean riders are taking their time, enjoying the sceneries riding at a leisurely pace. Singaporean Wilson Low is doing relatively good considering the fact he comes from sea level. He bagged the 5^th position in Stage 2.

 

Stage 2 is dominated by Nepalese riders. Ram Kumar Tamang finished the race in 4 hours 8 minutes and 8 seconds. Second position is taken by Stage 1 winner Ngawang Dawa Sherpa who completed the race in 4 hours 14 minutes and 53 seconds. The third place went to Himal Tamata who completed the race in 4 hours 28 minutes and 23 seconds.

 

As of 4pm in the afternoon, 9 riders have completed the race. Two Koreans and Sonam are yet to arrive at the finish line. Rest of the riders are already comfortable after their Dalbhat fix, for lunch.

 

WINNERS - Day 3, Stage 2 Yak Ru: 

1st Place: Ram Kumar Tamang

2nd Place: Ngawang Dawa Sherpa

3rd Place: Himal Tamata

 

For More Pictures of Day 3, visit our FB page here:

 

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May 05, 2014

 

Despite the unexpected downpours from early morning in Besi Sahar, Yak Ru – Annapurna Challenge ’14 Stage 1 started on a great footing. The race was flagged off at 8:50 am by race director Chhimi Urkyen Gurung. The drizzle at the start of the race didn’t dampen the riders’ spirits. In fact the rain made the ride cooler for them as they rode on very low altitude.

The day just saw one small incident. Woo had his fork broken near BhulBhule. Despite the broken fork, he continued the race and completed it carrying his bike. The winner for the stage one is Ngawang Dawa Sherpa who completed the race in 1 hour 30 minutes and 54 seconds.

Closely following behind was Ram Kumar Tamang who completed the Stage in 1 hour 31 minutes and 30 seconds. Wilson Low from Singapore completed the Stage in 1 hour 40 minutes and 22 seconds.

 

All the riders enjoyed the virgin trails today. Everyone is looking forward to the 45 kilometers Stage 2 tomorrow. 

 

For More Pictures of Day 2, visit our FB page here:

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Yak Ru – Annapurna Challenge ‘14

Kathmandu to Besi Sahar

May 04, 2014

 

Yak Ru – Annapurna Challenge ’14 started without any fanfare. After a hearty breakfast at the hotel in Thamel, participants rode their bikes to the bus stop at Naya Bazaar. Just as Seung Beom An reached the bus stand, a girl riding on a scooter crashed into his bike.

 

He walked away with a minor cut on his leg and the scooter’s front mudguard was completely broken. Guess who had to pay for the repair? You guessed it right, Seung Beom An had to fork out one thousand rupees ($10) for the damage. This is a great start to the race! A great lesson learnt on defensive riding.

 

No other incidents followed during the next 165km bus ride to Besi Sahar. Everyone, including our motorcycle crew have arrived in Besi Sahar safely and checked into Gateway Himalayan Resort. After a quick refreshment, participants have ventured out to the town looking for some local tea and snacks.

 

Next day’s race briefing is scheduled for 6 pm.

 

 

 

 

For More Pictures of Day 1, visit our FB page here:

 

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Yak Ru - Warm-up Ride and Briefing

​May 03, 2014

 

Today, 3rd of May, had the Yak Ru riders go all the way up to Seto Gumba, Sitapaila for their warm-up ride. It was a16 km ride, quite steep at places!

During the day, race briefing for all the riders was held. Chhimi Gurung, the race director and Sunil C. Sharma, the race's marketing director briefed the riders on what to expect, how to respond and how to conduct themseleves for the race duration.

In addition to the racers/cyclists from Nepal, Korea and Singapore, the briefing session had doctors from Grande Hospital (joining the race as medical support crew), army personals (joining the race as competitors and also as rescue supporters),  Korean and Nepali journalists present. 

 

Following the event, most of the attendees took photos at the Media corner holding Yak Ru flags, Sponsor cards and mementos.

 

For More Pictures of Warm-up Ride and Briefing, visit our FB page here.

 

Briefing:

Warm Up Ride:

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​May 03, 2014

 

International riders have arrived in Kathmandu for Yak Ru. NepalSutra™ team welcomed Jaechun Woo and Seung Beom An from Korea as well as Wlson Low from Singapore; at Tribhuwan International Airport today.

The much awaited race, shall shortly begin.

 

On May 4th 2014, riders shall leave for Besi Sahar for the competition.

 

A day ahead, on May 3rd, 2014, riders will be doing their warm-up ride and be receiving race briefing in Kathmandu Guest House, Thamel.

 

 

 

Here are some of the pictures from the airport today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CREDITS:

Story: Sunil C. Sharma

Photography & Videography: Kumar Ale, Jeevan Ale

Graphics: Anendra Dhoj Joshi