The Torq Yak Attack

Phil Evans (Extreme World Challenges) / 20.01.2012

The organisers of Yak Attack, "The highest mountain bike race on Earth"  are proud to announce a new title sponsor in the shape of UK based, fitness consultancy and performance nutrition products developer, TorqFitness.

Torq have been involved with the Himalayan stage race ever since Matt Hart, company director, took part in 2008, supporting Nepali riders, supplying Torq performance products for the event and even coaching Nepal National MTB champion Ajay Pandit Chhetri.

Now, with a company of Torqs reputation by their side, organisers are confident the race will go from strength to strength, being able to fulfil its ideology of using event profits to benefit the Nepali mtb scene and working towards assisting a Nepali mtb team qualify for the 2016 Olympics.

The 10 day stage race, kicks off in less than 7 weeks. Competitors from Nepal, UK, Eire, USA, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Canada and Australia will ride out of Kathmandu on the 3rd of March with 400km off mountainous trails ahead of them. After 4 days of riding through the Himalayan foothills, the course then heads into the mountains proper with 4.5 days of climbing, peaking at 5416m above sea level. Its then 4300m of descent in less than 100km to finish at the hot spring resort of Tatopani.

2012 is set to be the biggest and most exciting Yak Attack to date. The previous 5 years have seen Nepalis take all the podium places and only 2 stages have ever been won by international riders, but this year things could change. Team Topeak-Ergon USA are sending out 2 riders, in the form of Jeff Kerkove and Sonya Looney, both endurance specialists living in Colorado and so already used to the altitude. Paul Bolla, the 2011 2nd placed international, is returning for a second go, fitter and stronger, and Keith Green, last years medic will be trying his hand at racing this year.

Couple this with some very strong riders from the UK and Germany, amongst others, and the Nepali boys have a very real battle on their hands this year. The clever money still has to be on Ajay Pandit Chhetri however, after his coaching from TorqFitness, he has had a second place in Trans -Wales, narrowly missing out to Matt Page, a 52nd placing in La Ruta and has been training hard on home soil for the last 2 months.

To find out more and follow the riders progress during the race check into the race website www.yak-attack.co.uk or follow Yak Attack on Facebook and here on SleepMonsters.

Entries for the 2013 race will be open from March 31.