The first full day of the Silk Road Mountain Race is behind us. From Osh, riders faced over 6,000 meters of climbing in just 300 kilometers en route to Checkpoint One at Peak Lenin Base Camp. For some, that meant pushing on through the night. Others chose to rest early and save energy for the long road ahead.In this episode, we follow riders up the tight switchbacks of the Koy-Djul Pass topping out at 3811m. They recount stories of their first night on the road. By late afternoon, the leaders had already reached CP1, with Robin Gemperle arriving first and Meaghan Hackman the first woman to arrive in 10th position overall. For everyone else, it’s still just the beginning of a long journey that will stretch to the cutoff on August 30th.Riders featured in this episodeMaarten Vanhaverbeke - Cap 122Andrei Tereskin - Cap 12Miron Golfman - Cap 137Max Cherkasov - Cap 131Carlotta Schumacher - Cap 31Daniel Gottschalk - Cap 45 Victor Eklund - Cap 205Sergei Cherepanov - Cap 320Josh Ibbett - Cap 101Adam Palin - Cap 1Meaghan Hackman - Cap 132Click here to Dotwatch the raceFollow us on Instagram for daily visual updatesProduction and hosting by Mel WebbSound design by Ben CrannellMusic by BatyrkanCover image by Lloyd WrightThanks to our race partners Albion, Pertex, Tailfin, Styrkr and Julbo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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SRMR 25 Day 0: Into The Unknown
Our podcast coverage begins in Osh as the Silk Road Mountain Race moves from registration day through to the race start. Riders gather in the theatre to collect trackers, check their bikes, and receive Albion race caps printed with their numbers, along with t-shirts, socks and goodies from our partners Pertex and Styrkr. The atmosphere is a mix of excitement and nerves—quiet conversations punctuated by laughter—as the reality of what’s ahead begins to sink in.In this episode, you’ll hear from a handful of riders drawn from a field of 250. Some are returning after past editions, others are here for the first time. They share why Kyrgyzstan pulled them to the start line, what they’ve learned in previous races, and the mindset they’ll carry into the mountains. Following registration, they have one last briefing with Race Director Nelson Trees before setting off into the mountainsRiders featured in this episodeMax Cherkasov - Cap 131Karen Wykurz - Cap 106Gabi & Herman - Caps 311A&BChris Burkard - Cap 69Tobias Callister - Cap 196Cat McGill - Cap 33Eric House - Cap 62Annie Dunlap - Cap 16Carlotta Schumacher - Cap 31Meaghan Hackinen - Cap 132Robin Gemperle - Cap 165Anatole Naimi - Cap 10Alex McCormack - Cap 8 Race Preview BlogRace Preview Podcast episodeClick here to Dotwatch the raceFollow us on Instagram for daily visual updatesProduction and hosting by Mel WebbSound design by Ben CrannellIntro/outro music by BatyrkanCover image by Stephen SheleskyThanks to our race partners Albion, Pertex, Tailfin, Styrkr and Julbo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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SRMR 2025: Race Preview
Welcome to our podcast coverage of the 2025 Silk Road Mountain Race, supported by Albion, Tailfin, Pertex, STYRKR and Julbo.The Silk Road Mountain Race returns for its seventh edition with more than 700 kilometres of new, remote, and rarely travelled terrain. In this episode, Media Manager Mel Webb sits down with Race Director Nelson Trees to break down the 2025 route and preview the strongest field the race has ever seen.From the new Suyek Pass hike-a-bike to a 400-kilometre stretch without resupply, Nelson explains the challenges that await and why this year feels like a return to the uncertainty of the first edition. We talk through the favourites for the win, and the plethora of unpredictable factors—weather, altitude, and decision-making—that can shape the race. Dotwatch the 2025 Silk Road Mountain RaceFollow us on Instagram @silkroadmountainrace for daily visual updates.Credits:Hosted and produced by Mel WebbSound design by Ben CrannellMusic by Batyrkan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Welcome to the 2025 Silk Road Mountain Race
The Silk Road Mountain Race, created by Nelson Trees, is a self-supported bikepacking race through the remote mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The seventh edition kicks off on Friday August 15th at 6PM local time from in front of Mayor's Hall in Osh, Kyrgyzstan.Riders will have until midnight on August 30th to reach the finish line in Karakol. We'll be bringing you daily updates from the field throughout the duration of the race.Dotwatch the 2025 Silk Road Mountain RaceFollow us on Instagram @silkroadmountainrace for daily visual updates.Credits:Hosted and produced by Mel WebbSound design by Ben CrannellMusic by Batyrkan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
New Zealand