Sweden’s Philip Fagerberg clinched the Men Elite title at the second Pokhara Enduro Race, edging out Nepal’s Rajesh Magar by 2.32 seconds in a gripping contest. Kathmandu-based British rider Chris Keeling took third.

The three-day annual event concluded on Friday after an electrifying display of speed and skill at Mahaprabhu Dham in Arba Hills. The event brought together 60 participants, including seasoned veterans and aspiring young riders from 13 countries, showcasing the evolving competitive landscape of mountain biking in Pokhara and Nepal.

The race was a nail-biter, with Fagerberg narrowly edging out local favourite Magar by just 2.32 seconds in a contest that saw riders navigate through four stages filled with sharp descents and technical turns. The two were the only riders to complete the final-day course in under eight minutes.

“It was a wonderful experience coming thousands of miles from Europe to race in this beautiful location,” said Fagerberg, who celebrated his 29th birthday on Thursday. He finished with a combined time of 7 minutes 49.79 seconds over four special stages on the final day.

Picking up where he left off on Thursday, Fagerberg set the pace in SS1 with a time of 2:37.20, edging out Magar, who trailed by a mere quarter of a second. However, Magar—better known in the local mountain biking community as RJ Ripper—made a powerful comeback in the next stage, posting the fastest time of 1:43.70.

The Swede regained his rhythm on SS3, posting a time of 2:06.04 and extending his overall lead. A final push saw him finish SS4 with a time of 1:22.20, securing the top spot on the podium.

Magar finished strongly with a time of 7 minutes 52.11 seconds, taking first place in SS2 but narrowly missing out on the overall title. His consistency across all stages kept the pressure on Fagerberg, who had to deliver near-flawless performances, especially in SS3 and SS4, to secure the win.

Magar was content with his maiden appearance in Pokhara. “The competition was fierce and inspiring. Events like this elevate the sport in Nepal, and I’m proud to be part of it,” he said. “I’m already looking forward to coming back stronger next year.”

Keeling, riding for Switch Back Nepal, lost significant time due to a crash on SS1. However, he recovered well to remain competitive in the rest of the stages and finished with a time of 8:01.04. The top five was rounded out by Hikmat BK (8:12.96) in fourth place and Vijon Rana (8:56.80) in the Men Elite.

“It was an intense race. Although I lost some time after the crash, it was exciting, and I’m happy to be on the podium,” said Keeling, who is already looking forward to another duel with Magar. The two will take their rivalry to the season-ending Himalayan Enduro, the fifth and final leg of the Asian Enduro Series in Nagarkot Hills, just 30km east of Kathmandu, next week.

Laxmi Magar, Bhandari and Panday retain titles

Laxmi Magar, Rajan Bhandari, and Suraj ‘Buntay’ Pandey successfully retained titles they won in the Women Open, Masters ‘A’, and Masters ‘B’ categories, respectively.

Women Open: Representing Nepal Cycling School, she won all four stages on Friday with a combined time of 11 minutes 38.40 seconds.

India’s Anissa Lamare claimed second place with 12:13.13, while Singapore’s Eevon Chia-Stott secured third with 14:54.75, narrowly edging out compatriot Inna Saidi.

Masters ‘A’: In Masters ‘A’, Bhandari, a Pokhara local, used his familiarity with the terrain to great effect. He dominated the field with consistent pace and precision, completing the race in 8:25.90, winning the title by nearly 50 seconds. His closest competitor, Canada’s Pat Bernie, representing the Flow Trails Collective, pushed hard in SS2 and SS3, but the gap created by Bhandari’s superior downhill and technical riding in SS1 proved insurmountable.

“It was an exciting final-day race. I enjoyed every bit of it, racing against the stunning backdrop,” said Bernie, who will next compete in the Himalayan Enduro.

Hilal Al-Shuhumi of Oman’s Al Waal MTB Team claimed third place, finishing over three seconds behind Bernie with a time of 9:18.66. Malaysia’s Mohammed Affandi Abdullah of Heroes Racing Enduro finished fourth with a total time of 9:25.65, just shy of the podium. Local rider Kunjani Rai battled hard for fifth, with Munesh Ghale finishing sixth. Oman’s Mundher Al-Rawahi was seventh, with Vishwa Rai rounding out the top eight.

Masters ‘B’: Suraj ‘Buntay’ Panday claimed the Masters ‘B’ title with a time of 9:12.90, finishing 18 seconds ahead of second-placed Rabi Karki. Panday showcased his strength and skill, finishing first in key sections, including SS1, SS2, and SS4. His ability to maintain a consistent pace and push through the toughest parts of the course ultimately earned him the top spot. Karki, representing VGR, took first place in SS3. However, small time differences added up, and despite his best efforts, he couldn’t surpass Panday’s lead.

More than just a victory, Panday, currently on vacation from his UN job in Kyiv, expressed that reconnecting with old friends within the growing mountain biking community was the highlight for him. “This event is a testament to the dedication and athleticism of all participants,” said the former Nepali national downhill champion. “I look forward to seeing Nepali race organisers rise, paving the way for a bright future for mountain biking in the region.”

Shakthi Gunasekara, racing for Flow Trails Collective (FTC), secured third place with a time of 9:49.89. His competitive edge was evident in the early stages, where he fought closely with Karki, but slight delays in the middle stages hampered his chances of improving his position.

Doughty delivers a clinic in speed and technique

British rider Mark Doughty impressed with a masterful performance in the Masters ‘C’ category, winning with a time of 8:53.36. Doughty’s remarkable consistency landed him at the top of each of the four stages, displaying a blend of speed, technique, and tenacity that left competitors trailing in his wake.

“I’m grateful for the camaraderie among competitors. It pushes us all to ride better and enjoy the sport to its fullest,” Doughty said.

Japan’s Ko Kitazawa of ALT Bike secured second place with an overall time of 10:49.25. Despite a commendable performance, Kitazawa finished over two minutes behind Doughty. Hamed Al-Wadhahi from Oman’s Al Waal MTB Team took third place with a time of 10:50.45.

The mid-pack battle was intense, with Nepali riders Suresh Shakya and Pramesh Malakar finishing just seconds apart in fourth and fifth places, respectively.

Elijah Steward shines in Junior class 

Elijah Steward stood out among the junior riders to win the category in 9 minutes 04.35 seconds. The Pokhara-based American rider dominated the course, claiming the title with nearly 47 seconds to spare. Drishya Panthi, another emerging rider from Pokhara, claimed second place with 9:50.97.

“I pushed hard on each stage today. Elijah, being more adapted to enduro riding, was in a different league. However, I’m pleased to split the two siblings and come home with the second-best time,” Panthi said with a laugh afterwards.

Joby Steward completed the podium with a time of 10:17.36, just over a minute behind Panthi. Joby’s second-place finish in SS2 showed he could challenge the best, but slight setbacks in other stages saw him lose ground.

Australian rider Chris Stott, whose competition was cut short last year after breaking a collarbone in an accident during practice, was pleased to have raced without setbacks this season. “After last year’s disappointment, just being able to race without issues feels like a victory in itself,” he said.

At the presentation following the races, the winners in the Elite Men, Open Female, Junior, Masters ‘A’, Masters ‘B’, and Masters ‘C’ categories were each awarded a gift voucher worth Rs50,000. The runners-up in those categories received Rs30,000, while third-place finishers were awarded Rs20,000.

Participants in the non-competitive Super Junior category also received gifts. Six young boys, aged 11-16, participated in the event.

Nepal’s supermarket chain BigMart sponsored the gift vouchers. The organisers also provided sponsored gifts from cycling apparel companies Dharco and Seven, and equipment companies Granite and Funn to the top five finishers in those categories.