MONDURO 6.0: Tawang mountain bike race honours the snow leopard

The sixth edition of MONDURO, a mountain biking event organised by the Tawang Cycling Association (TCA), opened in Tawang on Monday with the snow leopard as its theme.

Titled "MONDURO 6.0 - The Ghost of the Mountains", this year's event is meant to promote adventure sports and draw attention to the conservation of the elusive big cat, which lives in the high Himalaya, including parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

Race dates and format

The main races are on November 13 and 14. About 25 cyclists are expected to compete, including riders from the United Kingdom, Nepal and Indonesia, The Times of India reported. There are three categories: Men Elite, Hardtail and Women.

Riders will cover about 22 km over two mountain trails, with stage starts at more than 14,400 feet, steep technical descents and rough high-altitude terrain.

Opening

Tawang Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo flagged off the event as chief guest, with Superintendent of Police Tasi Darang as guest of honour. After the flag-off, the riders did a joy ride through Tawang town.

Angmo credited the TCA with running the event for six straight years and helping make Tawang a mountain biking destination. She asked riders to put safety first and to give themselves enough time to adjust to the altitude.

A growing fixture

MONDURO has now been held for six consecutive years, and organisers say it has grown into an event that attracts riders from abroad. The snow leopard theme was chosen because the cat is seen as the spirit of the high Himalaya; organisers said they wanted the race to reflect its agility, strength and resilience, and to link the sport with wildlife conservation and nature.

The high starting points mean altitude is a real risk for visiting riders, which is why the deputy commissioner stressed acclimatisation before race days.

TCA president Sangey Tsering said the association wanted to get more young people into adventure sports and to show Tawang's potential as an international adventure tourism destination. He credited support from Chief Minister Pema Khandu for the event's growth.

An official said the event went beyond a bike race, bringing together sport, nature, wildlife conservation and the adventurous spirit of the Himalaya.