Silk Road Mountain Race 2019

Riders will gather for the start of the race at the flagpole near Orto-Say, on the way out of Bishkek. Unlike last year where we had a neutralised start and police escort, riders will be able to race at their own pace from the outset. The first 10 kilometres or so are very quiet dirt roads that will… read more

The biggest single ascent of the entire race in elevation gain. It’s long and tough and will quickly let riders know what they’re getting themselves into. Last year it had a real impact on the overall field of riders, with some deciding to make their way over the pass on the first day and others preferring… read more

After the hardships of Kegety, riders will take a right into the Karakol valley. They will soon be making their way up another high pass, at a little over 3400 meters. They will be surrounded by beautiful alpine landscapes before finally reaching Kojomkul, the first resupply point of the race. The village… read more

Riders will then head through a narrow valley along the Kokemeren river on a mixed surface with its fair share of washboard gravel. If the timing is right, there are a number of guest houses in Kyzl-Oi which they can ask about at the CBT office in the village. There is also one small, rather limited… read more

The route up to Checkpoint 1 is in our opinion the most beautiful way to reach Song Kul lake from the north or west but it's also one of the most difficult. To reach the foot of the climb riders leave the main road and head through what riders dubbed the ‘longest village in Kyrgyzstan’. The climb itself… read more

After leaving Checkpoint one behind, riders will be treated to a big gravel descent as they head down Moldo-Ashuu pass. At the foot of the climb they’ll have the option of having a rare coffee at the shop in Jangy-Talap. They’ll then cross the Naryn river and return briefly onto paved roads before reaching… read more

It may not look like much on the map but this section of the route is one of our favourites and features some of the most stunning views of the entire race. Be sure to look over your shoulder as you reach the summit of the climb shortly after Baetov. The rippling canyons and foothills are truly a sight… read more

The Chinese highway is 80 kilometers of smooth tarmac until you reach the border control point at Torugart. Riders will reach speeds they had almost forgotten were possible on the flat. Beyond Torugart though, the road becomes a rough mud track along the eerie no man's land with China. Be warned that… read more

The old soviet road is only a short section of the overall route but it left a marking impression on riders in the first edition of the race. The 1.4 kilometre climb out of CP2 has an average gradient of almost 14%, gradually increasing on the way up, to reach 18% near the summit. It’s almost certainly… read more

After crossing the Ak-Sai river, riders will travel north and onto Naryn as they did last year. After Bosogo there is a long section of washboard gravel road. Riders may ride beside the road on alternate tracks left by cars trying to avoid the rough surface. The smooth tarmac descent into Naryn, and… read more

This section of the race may not be quite as wild as what we had initially planned for this year's riders but it is nonetheless remote and wild, with very little in the way of resupply or shelter. It's also hard to find a more beautiful section of Kyrgyzstan to ride through. The ever changing landscapes… read more

New for this year's race, and ever so slightly taller than Tosor pass, that it replaces, this is one of the biggest passes of the race. At around 4012m, it is the only pass that breaks the 4000m mark. It towers above lake Issyk-Kul. It’s not the single hardest pass of the race but it is definitely one… read more

The Karakudzhur valley after Tong is another section from last year’s route that was amongst many riders’ favourite. It’s lined on all sides by snow capped peaks and is a gradual descent towards Kochkor. Do not be fooled by the slight downwards incline though, the rough surface will slow progress and… read more

The route from Kochkor to Shabdan includes what is still likely the hardest pass of the race: Shamsi. It's essentially a horse track over a 3800 meter pass that includes around 20 kilometres of hike a bike. That being said it is also one of our favourite sections and more than one rider from last year… read more

Chong Kemin is a picturesque valley that climbs gently towards the Kazakh border. Riders’ border zone permit will again be checked towards the end of this section before they tackle the final pass of the race. This whole section should be quite a smooth run, on dirt and gravel tracks up the valley.

Kok-Airyk pass is the final challenge of the race. It’s another 3800 meter pass, but with a road that is heavily damaged and hasn’t been passable by car for several years. Riders will need to pick their way over many sections where rockfall and landslides make riding impossible. We must also warn you… read more