On Saturday morning, riders will leave Talas, Kyrgyzstan for the longest Silk Road Mountain Race (SRMR) yet.
The 2026 route stretches for 2,052 kilometres, with 35,500 metres of climbing between the start and Cholpon Ata. Only 20% is paved. There’s a new 150 kilometre section through the country between Baetov and Torugart, a hike over Ukok Pass, and the familiar late combination of Kegeti and Kok-Ayrik before riders finally reach Lake Issyk-Kul.
The field at the front matches the scale of the challenge.