Silk Road Mountain Race 2026

The eighth edition of the Silk Road Mountain Race is a fixed-route bikepacking race through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The format is a single unsupported stage: the clock does not stop and there are no prizes. Riders enter solo or in pairs, and only pair partners may help each other.

The route: 2,052 km with roughly 35,362 m of climbing. It starts in Talas in the north-west of the country and finishes in Cholpon-Ata on the northern shore of lake Issyk-Kul. No more than 20% is paved; the rest is gravel, single and double track and old Soviet roads. The course takes in the Kegeti and Kok-Ayrik passes and, new this year, Ukok.

What makes it hard:

• a stretch of more than 100 km with essentially no resupply, so food has to be planned well ahead;
• nights at altitude: the sleep system has to cope with −15 °C, and mountain weather is unpredictable;
• long, steep climbs that call for gearing of at least 1:1, plus sections walked with the bike;
• navigation by a GPX track checked and validated by the organisers.

The race starts on 15 August 2026 and riders have 15 days, until 29 August; most take around two weeks. Along the route there are three staffed checkpoints, control cars, a medical car and a 24/7 race HQ.