KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 23
The 'Enduro International Mountain Bike' race kicked off today in Pokhara. A total of 55 mountain bike racers from 11 countries, including Nepal, are competing for the title in the three-day competition at Arba Bijayadanda in Pokhara Metropolitan City-13.
The participants include five women. The tournament is expected to attract mountain bike enthusiasts from around the world.
Organized by the mountain bike company Dawn Till Dusk, five routes have been created for the competition that begins at Arba Bijayadanda, at an elevation of 1,360 meters above sea level.
Metropolis Mayor Dhanraj Acharya inaugurated the competition by handing the number plate to a Singaporean mountain racer amid a function here. The tournament is divided into seven categories, including elite men, junior (12-18 years), master's 'A' (40-49 years), veteran's 'B' (above 50 years), and women's open and e-bike, said the tournament director, Sunil Chandra Sharma.
The winner of the elite men's category will receive Rs 50,000 in cash, the first runner-up Rs 30,000, and the second runner-up Rs 20,000. In the women's category, the winner will get Rs 35,000 in cash, the first runner-up Rs 25,000, and the second runner-up Rs 15,000.
Metropolis Mayor Acharya mentioned that the metropolis has been supporting sports competitions to develop Pokhara as the capital of sports tourism. 'The metropolis has been working with plans to promote tourism in Pokhara. We have chosen the hill of Arba as it is found to be a suitable place to organize the mountain bike competition in terms of technicality,' he said."
