Kona Land of the Yeti Duathlon

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From Dawn till Dusk

Phil Evans / 07.11.2008

As this was, on paper, the toughest stage of the race, with 2 high passes to traverse and a total cumulative climb of 2078m, an early start was necessary to ensure the remaining competitors finished in day light.

So in the pre-dawn darkness the race continued in the same vein as it finished yesterday, with a 700m climb, carrying the bikes to the top of Taksindu La, the second highest point between Lukla and Jiri at 3071m.

The descent from there, although rough and rocky, was for a high percentage, rideable and the altitude gained was soon lost again as the trail dropped down to yet another suspension bridge spanning one of the many rivers cascading down from the high peaks. The trail then crossed through rhododendron forests and undulated along the mountain side, with some pleasantly rideable sections, as it made its way to the remote village of Junbesi.

Chnadra Chhetri was able to utilise his superior bike handling skills to finally take the lead during this part of the stage, and he was able to hold onto that lead even up the arduous 900m climb to the top of Lamjura La, the highest point along the trail at 3540m

From the top of the pass a 1900m descent snaked is its way down the mountainside to the days final destination of Kinja. This would normally have mountain bikers jumping for joy and should have given Chandra his first stage victory, but this was no ordinary descent. Strewn with rocks, boulders, clay, roots and near vertical sections, it was nigh on impossible to ride, and Dipak, not even stopping to fix a puncture, with bike on shoulder descended the section over 1 hour quicker than his mountain biking friend, to take yet another stage victory.

Having held Jobir at bay for the majority of the day Phil Evans, the only remaining non Nepalese competitor, took a wrong turn in 1 of the villages along the descent and saw Jobir slip past below him on the trail proper! Finally arriving in Kinja, just before dark, nearly 12 hours after leaving Nunthala, he quipped that this could possibly be a new record for a slowest ever 22 mile stage!

Results for Day 4

1 Dipak Raj Rai(HeatmaxUK) 7.54
2 Chandra Chhetri 9.08
3 Jobir Rai 11.23
4 Phil Evans 11.46

Overall standings

1 Dipak Raj Rai (HeatmaxUK) 19.07
2 Jobir Rai 23.16
3 Chandra Chhetri 28.31
4 Phil Evans 29.54See All Event Posts