Madeeha Syed

Everything You Need To Know About The Tour De Khunjerab

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Overview

There is no place like Pakistan. Soaring, snow-dusted peaks and sun-kissed valleys provided a most picturesque backdrop as a pack of professional and amateur cyclists streamed along winding roads at truly dizzying altitudes.

These majestic scenes were witnessed in the second edition of the world&rsquo;s highest altitude cycling competition &ndash; Pakistan&rsquo;s very own Tour de Khunjerab &ndash; usually held from June 27 till June 30.

Launched in 2018 by the Pakistan Cycling Federation in collaboration with the government of Gilgit-Baltistan, the unique event is recognised by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world governing body for sports cycling and competitive cycling events around the globe.

In just a year, Tour de Khunjerab has garnered international fame due to its scenic locations and challenging nature. The four-day race started in Gilgit at 1,500 metres above sea level and culminated at the world&rsquo;s highest border crossing, the Khunjerab Pass on the Pakistan-China border, at a spectacular height of almost 5,000 metres.

It comprised of four stages &ndash; first on June 27 from Gilgit to Ghulmat (2,000 metres); second on June 28 from Ghulmat to Duikar (2,900 metres); third on June 29 from Aliabad (2,200 metres) to Sost (2,800 metres); and the final stage from Sost to Khunjerab (4,700 metres). Along with varying sceneries, each stage offered a challenge greater than the last.

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This came in the form of total distance and elevation gain; in the first leg, participants covered 68 kms at an elevation of 850 m; 35 kms at an elevation of 950 m in the second; 92 kms and 1,700 m in the third; and 2,000 m over 84 kms in the final and toughest stage.

This year&rsquo;s Tour de Khunjerab involved around 90 cyclists with teams representing Pakistan&rsquo;s provinces &ndash; Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan &ndash; and the capital, Islamabad. There were also teams from government departments as well as two teams from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. The event also featured an open category that afforded UCI-licensed individuals from Pakistan, Spain and Switzerland a shot at glory.

Rounding off the pack were amateur cyclists who, after passing a preliminary fitness test conducted in Islamabad, were allowed to ride behind the main race participants.

Apart from the international cyclists, the race organizers had also invited certified referees and officials from around the world to officiate this year&rsquo;s event.

Jibran Jawaid explains that &lsquo;climbing&rsquo; &ndash; or cycling up to higher altitudes &ndash; was the toughest ask for cyclists across the board. 
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Conclusion

&ldquo;When a racer is cycling up &ndash; or climbing &ndash; to a higher altitude, his or her competition is no longer with fellow contenders. At that point, the only opponent is gravity. Climbs are usually just one of the parts of a multi-stage cycle race, but in Tour de Khunjerab all four stages are climbs,&rdquo; says the former weightlifter and swimmer who competed in the individual category.

&ldquo;The first stage was a 68-km journey from Gilgit to Rakaposhi Base Camp 2. I was able to meet the time cut and continue the second day. The second stage was a grueling individual time trial which was only 36 km long but with a caveat of six km of unrelenting climbing at the end. At one point all riders had to dismount as the terrain was too steep to be navigated on a cycle.&rdquo; 
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