Yeti Bike Race Nepal.Tour of Annapurna.
The YETI BIKE RACE Nepal is a stage MTB race which summit is the Thorong la Pass, the highest cycle path in the world at 5316m. A melting pot of landscapes that take you from the tropical forest at 800m to the arctic domain of the Himalayas, through vast pine forests, deep canyons, and the pre-Tibetan desert plains of the Mustang Valley.
We fly to our destination Katmandu (Nepal). Mohan, president of Makalu, is waiting for us with the transfer and some wreaths hanging around our necks as a sign of the hospitality and affection of these respectable people.
We attend the briefing and head for the tumultuous Thamel district for a city tour and visit to the Buddhist stupa Boudhanath, the pilgrimage temples Swayambhunath and Pashupatinath where we are perplexed by the crematory acts on the river.
During the night we are honored by the organization with a folkloric dinner with regional dances that animate the evening and tired, we go to sleep.
Day 2. Stage 1: Besi Sahar- Jagat 32km +1100m accumulated
We head to the start of the route, in the village of Besi Sahar by bus with our bikes carefully loaded into boxes and bags to be transported.
We start under a light rain, crossing Tibetan bridges, rice fields, and subtropical forests of an almost intense green, sprinkled with farmers who greet us on our way. We arrive at Jagat where dinner with pasta awaits us and we go to sleep exhausted.
DAY3. Stage 2 Jagat-Chame 35k and 2300m accumulated
The stage wears out the participants, the landscape becomes more rugged, with small picturesque villages... and finally we reach our destination, the village of Chame, at 2700m altitude. We have lunch and in the afternoon the organization takes us to some natural hot springs that will delight our recovery.
DAY 4. Stage 3. Chame-Manang. 36k and 1700m accumulated
This stage is the most picturesque, Upper Pisang, Humde, Brakha... small villages wrapped in fields of violet flowers that remind me of fields of lavender.
We stay in a picturesque mountain hotel, decorated in wood. In the afternoon, after eating some tasty "momos", we all dress up in the fluorine color jacket given to us by the organization and go on a short trek to visit the Gangapurna glacier, at the foot of the Annapurna massif above us, at an altitude of over 8000m.
DAY 5. Stage 4. Manang-Thorong Phedi 20km and 1000m accumulated. Acclimatization stage.
Breathing becomes more difficult, the trees are smaller due to the lack of oxygen and the extreme temperatures. The key to this neutralized stage is to go very slowly to help acclimatize.
DAY 6. Stage 5. Thorong Phedi- Thorong La Pass - Marpha 55km, + 1400m accumulated
When we arrive at Thorong La Pass we join in a hug and begin the descent along a zigzagging path that is almost always cyclable but with caution.
In the afternoon we visit a picturesque Buddhist monastery and the monks tell us about their cloistered life. Every day is a teaching in the Yeti Bike Race and every day we are more united.
DAY 7 Stage 6. Marpha - Tatopani 40k. +850m. accumulated
One of the most beautiful stages of the journey. We continue to descend and it's like a "deja vue" but now, downwards, we pass from yesterday's arctic landscape to the alpine forest, crossing Tibetan bridges, marijuana plant meadows, and small wooden villages painted in blue. If it is clear we can see the Daulaguiri at more than 8000m altitude.
DAY 8. Stage 7. Tatopani Beni 30k 650m accumulated. Neutralized.
We return to the subtropical environment, more heat, and humidity, mud that makes us dismount at some point.
We arrive in Kathmandu after a 6-hour journey but in the evening we are rewarded with a special dinner, free beer, and personalities of tourism from Nepal who have come to the trophy ceremony with journalists.
Our journey is over after 7 stages and 240k and we are now aware of the meaning of being Yeti Bikers.
