Yak Attack 2012 Filling Fast
Press Release / 26.05.2011
With the limited places available selling steadily since entries opened on May 1, and the discount amounting to a whopping £160 saving, now is definitely the time to secure a place. And if that wasnt enough, 1 lucky female entrant (booking before May 31) will receive a 50% discount off the full entry price (see the Yak Attack web site for more details).
The 11 day stage race, through the Nepalese Himalaya, regarded by many as one of the toughest mountain bike races on the international calendar, will be in its 6th year in 2012. From humble beginnings in 2007, with only a handful of local and international riders, the event has grown steadily and is expected to attract a capacity field in 2012. With limited facilities and race organisers wanting to minimise the impact the event has on the area, a limit of 40 riders per year has been set and with 20 places being allocated to Nepali riders this leaves 20 available for international riders.
Two riders taking on the 400km course, which crams in 11000m of ascent and a near pure 100km of downhill, are Topeak-Ergon USA team riders Jeff Kerkove and Sonya Looney. They will be completing a double first for the event, being the first Americans and the first pro riders to compete, and being endurance specialists they should be able to give the top Nepali riders (who have won every year so far) a run for their money.
The tough terrain isn’t the only element to have to battle against however. There's the altitude - the trail peaks at a lung busting 5416m, making Yak Attack the "Highest mountain bike race on Earth" . There's the weather - last year saw temperatures vary from +44c during the early stages to -15c on crossing the Thorong La pass. Thrown in with that there is, dust, sand, rock, mud, snow and ice, suspension bridges, pigs, goats and donkeys and an elite team of altitude adept Nepali riders to compete against.
Next years race kicks off on March 2 and details of stage distances, altitude profiles etc, along with entry details can be found at <a href="#" onClick="javascript:newsitewindow('http://www.yak-attack.co.uk')" class="main">www.yak-attack.co.uk</a>.
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