The Silk Road Mountain Race is not for the faint-hearted. Spanning 1,700km through the unforgiving mountains of Kyrgyzstan, this ultra-endurance challenge is as brutal as they come. In the first edition of the race in August 2018, only a third of the 100 international participants managed to cross the finish line.
Riders must battle the pain of climbing 27,000m, walking and cycling through gravel paths, deserts, swamps, and Soviet-era roads that have been damaged for years. To put the sheer scale of the race into perspective, it's the equivalent of cycling from Seoul to Busan and back, three times. Even if the participants don't suffer from mechanical issues, illness, or injury - riders are faced with the psychological challenge of solitude for hours on end, with only their thoughts for company.
The Silk Road Mountain Race demands more than just endurance; it tests the riders' resilience to the limit. Participants can enter either solo or as a team of two, carrying all their gear, a SPOT tracker for emergencies, and immense determination.
Among the competitors this year was 42-year-old Jongha Park from Korea, taking on his second Silk Road Mountain Race. With 20 years of endurance cycling behind him, Jongha became the first Korean rider to finish both the Silk Road Mountain Race (during his first attempt) and Atlas Mountain Race. Domestically, his achievements include setting the fastest time in the Korea Randonneurs, completing the Seoul-Busan three times, and placing third in the Korea Epic 2023.
During this year's Silk Road Mountain Race, Jongha covered more than 100km per day and crossed the finish line in an incredible 12 days, 16 hours, and 55 minutes. Shortly after QUOC Korea caught up with Jongha to talk about his experience tackling some of Kyrgyzstan's toughest roads , and what it takes to finish a race of this calibre - for the second time.
The Silk Road Mountain Race is notorious for its extreme difficulty. What motivated you to enter the race for a second time?
My goal was to complete the double challenge of finishing both the Tour Divide and the Silk Road Mountain Race in a single year. Both races require immense endurance and mental strength, so thorough preparation was essential.
What necessary preparation did you do before the race, particularly as high altitude would be involved?
In Korea, I focused heavily on endurance training, where my QUOC Gran Tourer XC was particularly effective. Thanks to their excellent power transfer and comfort, I was able to ride distances of 300km without discomfort - which helped me maintain the stamina necessary to complete the Silk Road Mountain Race right after finishing the Tour Divide.
I also did some high-altitude training immediately after returning from the Tour Divide, so my body was already prepared. Nevertheless, to adapt quickly to the altitude in Kyrgyzstan, I arrived a few days early so I could also introduce some additional backpacking training in the mountains before the race started.
As the course is very remote, how did you plan for and manage your hydration and calorie intake?
During the race, there were markets about every 150km. I made sure to carry 1L of cola with me and mainly ate bread and biscuits. Since this was my second time participating in the race, I knew where the stores were located, and I could properly prepare snacks based on the distances between them. However, there was an unexpected challenge during the final pass, as I was unfamiliar with this section and I had not prepared enough supplies. After several hours of pushing my bike uphill due to a landslide, I was running low on food and energy. Luckily, a rider from the UK shared some snacks and cola, which allowed me to get through that tough section.
Which part of the race did you find the most challenging and what advice do you have for pushing through?
Lenin Peak was one of the most difficult parts of this race. The route rises from 800m to 4000m in altitude, and I remember this section taking me around 10 hours to complete during a previous race. This time, I rode as far as possible before resting, and then I spent about 2.5 hours pushing my bike up, which was much faster than my previous attempt. During this segment, I reflected on the past races and training I'd done, and I could feel how much my preparation, especially with upgraded kit like my QUOC shoes, had contributed to my success - so having confidence in your training and planning is key.
What tips do you have for those thinking about attempting an ultra-endurance race?
There is no special secret. Once you've decided to take on the challenge, the most important thing is the preparation process to build up the mental and physical strength necessary to see it through. Anyone can take on this challenge, and if you're properly prepared, completing the race is absolutely possible.