Seasoned riders showcased their expertise, while young talent shone with bold and impressive performances at the Himalayan Enduro 2024 in Nagarkot over the weekend. The three-day event marked the grand finale of the Asian Enduro Series, bringing together 83 participants from 16 countries to test their mettle on Nepal’s iconic trails.

Located 30 km east of Kathmandu, the Nagarkot hills are famed for their steep ascents and thrilling descents that offer an exceptional test for mountain biking enthusiasts. The event’s technical trails and dynamic downhill sections provided a uniquely challenging and memorable experience for enduro riders.

Rajesh Magar won the Men’s Open category, one of six featured at the event, demonstrating exceptional skill and determination on Saturday. It marked his second victory of the season in the Asian Enduro Series, following his triumph at the EnduroLK in Sri Lanka. He dominated SS1, SS2, and SS3, completing the course in an impressive 13:36.15 for an aggregate of 16:08.33. Christopher Ashok Keeling closely trailed, finishing just 17 seconds behind to claim second place.

Keeling, finishing with a time of 16:25.35, delivered a strong performance but fell short in the decisive final stages. Nirav Shrestha completed the podium with a solid third-place finish, crossing the line in 16:42.46. The competition remained fierce, with Prachit Thapa Magar (16:51.46) and Naman Agrawal (17:05.18) rounding out the top five.

Women Open: Kikuchi in Command

Japanese rider Miho Kikuchi clinched victory in the Women’s Open category, finishing with a combined time of 19:56.44. She dominated all four stages, displaying flawless skill and endurance.

Nining Porwaningsih of Indonesia secured second place with a time of 21:18.83. Despite strong performances, she was unable to close the gap, finishing over a minute behind Kikuchi.

Nepal’s Laxmi Magar claimed third place with a time of 23:10.86, maintaining her podium position despite trailing Kikuchi by over two minutes. Nepali riders Usha Khanal and Sunita Shrestha rounded out the top five.

Rising Stars Shine in Junior U18

The Junior U18 race showcased the rising stars of enduro mountain biking, as each rider brought unique strengths to a thrilling contest of skill and strategy.

Sambhav Scott Khatry seized the top spot with relentless determination, his prologue victory proving crucial in fending off the challenge from his closest rival. Nima Sherpa, who placed third in both Friday’s prologue and SS1 on race day, mounted a strong comeback, claiming victories in SS3 and SS4.

After setting a scorching pace in SS2, Khatry faltered in the final stage, leaving Sherpa thinking he had done enough to secure the win. But it was not to be, as Khatry claimed a thrilling win by less than three seconds.

Dirgam Dan Mishra, consistent throughout, finished a mere 10 seconds behind the leader. His explosive start in the SS1 and strong finishes in SS2 and SS3 earned him a podium spot.

Rock Star (30+): Indonesian Riders Take Centre Stage

The Rock Star (30+) category saw fierce competition between Indonesian riders Koko Muhamad Padli and Sugianto Sugianto. Padli set the pace early, securing victory with an aggregate time of 18:37.80.

Sugianto delivered the fastest times in the latter stages but ultimately settled for second place with 18:46.43. Rajan Bhandari completed the podium in third, finishing 10 seconds behind. The battle remained close throughout, with strong performances from Canadian Patrick Nolin-Bernie and Australian Benjamin James Seek.

Suraj Panday Reigns in Veteran (40+)

Suraj Panday claimed first place in the Veteran (40+) category with consistent performances across all four stages. His impressive time of 19:50.57 placed him comfortably ahead of his competitors.

Alexey Berd secured second place with 20:38.50. The American rider led the first two stages on the race day but could not maintain his pace in the final stretch. Anup Gurung finished third with 21:18.15, followed by Sri Lankan Shakthi Gunasekara (21:58.23) and Singaporean Ogy Ayako (22:31.29).

Doughty’s Epic Victory in Legends (50+)

British rider Mark Doughty secured the Legends 50+ title, showcasing endurance and skill despite battling illness before the race.

Doughty posted the fastest times in the first three stages, securing a well-deserved win with a time of 19:19.98. Singapore’s Mohd Herman Bin Mohd Arsek finished second with 19:54.01. He mounted a strong challenge in the final stage but was unable to overcome Doughty’s early lead.

Denmark’s Kim Christensen secured third place with 23:26.09, while Henrik Borg Moller from Thailand and Oman’s Hamed Hamood Naseer Al-Wadhahi rounded out the top five.

Source: Clockwork Trails

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