2023 Silk Road Mountain Race

The Silk Road Mountain Race is a fixed route, unsupported, single-stage cycling race through the mountains of Kyrgyzstan. The clock does not stop and there are no prizes. It follows gravel, single and double track and old soviet roads that have long been forgotten and fallen into disrepair. There is very little tarmac. There is some walking, and at times there is great distances between resupply points.

The race starts on the 12th of August 2023 with a ‘grand départ’ at midnight from Karakol, in southern Kyrgyzstan. Riders will follow a 1900 kilometre fixed route that passes through three staffed control points. They will need to get a stamp in their brevet card at each, before finally heading to the finish line in Cholpon Ata for a well deserved post-race beer or two. To earn a successful finish they will need to complete the course before the end of the after party on the 26th of August.

How tough it will be cannot be understated, but as Mike Hall once said, “Nothing that’s worth anything is ever easy.” This race will be a true demonstration of this sentiment.

Check out the 2023 Silk Road Mountain Race Tracker page to follow along on the live tracking map, find our Rigs of the SRMR roundup, and see more event coverage. Find it here.

For more articles on the Silk Road Mountain Bike Race, follow this link. Here you’ll find Rugile Kaladyte’s 2019 Race Reports, an interview with Lael Wilcox, as well as the rigs of the 2019 Silk Road Mountain Bike Race.