As the morning sun broke through the mist at Mahaprabhu Dham in Pokhara, the 2024 Pokhara Enduro Race proceeded with its highly anticipated prologue on Thursday.

The three-day event, which kicked off on Wednesday, has featured 60 riders from 13 countries across seven categories, including a non-competitive Super Junior division. It was nothing short of electrifying as riders from all five categories competed for a spot at the top, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable finale.

At the centre of the action was Sweden’s Philip Fagerberg, who delivered an exceptional performance on his birthday, claiming provisional pole with a blazing time of 2 minutes 4.55 seconds.

The S-Works rider’s combination of technical finesse and sharp focus left no room for doubt—he’s ready for the challenge ahead. His pace set the bar high, leaving fellow competitors in his wake, with margins so tight that the race for the podium is bound to intensify.

Level-headed

Despite delivering a superb performance in the prologue, Philip remained level-headed, cautious not to get carried away with a provisional success. “There’s still a long road ahead and a lot to fight for in the final races,” he said, referring to the race day which will be completely independent of the prologue.

Kathmandu-based British rider Christopher Keeling, representing Switch Back Nepal, emerged as the Swede’s closest rival, clocking in just 3.65 seconds behind with a time of 2:08.20.

Keeling, who finished as the runner-up last year, will undoubtedly be a major contender in the final stages. The competition for the top spot could not be any closer, with Nepal’s Hikmat BK trailing by just 7.20 seconds in third place with 2:11.75.

Among the top five, Rajesh Magar, despite arriving in Pokhara only the day before, showed incredible grit to secure fourth place with a time of 2:18.90.

“It’s all about getting into rhythm quickly, especially when you’ve just arrived,” said Magar, who is popular among his fans as “RJ Ripper”.

“With prologue times not carrying over, I’m looking forward to giving it my all in the finale and hopefully ending up on the podium,” said a confident Magar, hinting at the exciting race to come.

Bhandari leads Masters ‘A’

In the Masters categories, seasoned riders showcased their experience and skill. Rajan Bhandari of Syangja claimed provisional pole in the Masters ‘A’ category with a time of 2:22.75, while Canadian Pat Bernie, of the Flow Trails Collective (FTC), finished second with 2:32.59.

Bernie, who had suffered a crash the previous day, showed remarkable resilience, delivering an incident-free run on Thursday. “I’m happy with my performance today,” he said, “and it adds extra motivation as I head into the finale. It’s going to be tough with the dustier trails, but I’m ready to push hard.”

Behind Bhandari and Bernie, Malaysia’s Mohammed Affandi Abdullah and two Omani riders Mundher Al-Rawahi and Hilal Al-Shuhumi set up an intriguing battle for the top positions in the coming stages.

In Masters ‘B’ (40-49 years), Suraj ‘Buntay’ Panday of Nepal posted a time of 2:30.10, claiming provisional pole despite his dissatisfaction with the run. With no prologue times carrying over to the finale, Panday is gearing up for an all-out assault on Friday’s race. “It’s a new day, a new race,” the former Nepal No.1 downhiller said, ready to push for the win.

Doughty’s Timeless Skill

The prologue results also spotlighted an outstanding performance from Mark Doughty in the Masters ‘C’ (50-59 years) category. The experienced rider finished with a commanding time of 2:21.00, a full 35.10 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, Hamed Al-Wadhahi of Oman.

Doughty’s pace set him apart as the one to watch on Friday, and he looks primed to continue his strong showing in the finale.

“The SS5 is the best trail here and I was able to ride it with my flow, really feeling in sync with the track,” he said. Looking ahead to the final race, the seasoned veteran added, “The trails for the final won’t exactly align with my preferences. Regardless, I’m determined to give it my all and put in my best performance.”

Sibling rivalry

While the leaders on the men’s side impressed, the junior category added a thrilling layer to the day. Elijah Steward, who narrowly missed the title last year, set a blistering pace to claim first place with a time of 2:35.44. His younger brother, Joby, finished just eight seconds behind in 2:43.47, igniting a fierce sibling rivalry that promises to be one of the highlights of the race.

Among the women, Nepal’s No.1 enduro rider Laxmi Magar set a solid pace in the Women’s Open category, leading with a time of 3:25.81. India’s Anissa Lamare finished 14.24 seconds behind after suffering a fall. Their performances make it clear that the women’s competition will be one to watch as the two talented riders set the tone for what promises to be an exciting race.