Press Release

MONDURO - 3rd Edition

World's highest altitude Enduro mountain bike race in Arunachal Pradesh, India

downhillermenon
1/1/2024 10:25pm
Monduro 2023 - Worlds highest altitude enduro race in Tawang%2C Arunachal Pradesh%2C India - VitalMTB Article by Vinay Menon

Words: Vinay Menon \\ Photos: Monduro.in

A 12 hours drive north from Guwahati city in the state of Assam, through multiple Indian Army checkposts, I arrived to a beautiful, soft humming town of Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Hidden in the northeast of India, Arunachal Pradesh has a vast expanse of forest wrapped mountains. Utilizing these green jungles and prime dirt, a team of local mountain bikers from Tawang, linked together age old migration trails, new village pathways and cattle grazing trails and mapped an amazing network of routes that could quite possibly be some of the best trails in India.
 

Tawang Monastery is Asia s 2nd largest Buddhist monastery sitting at an altitude of 3000m.

Shakyamuni Buddha statue in Tawang town. Shakyamuni, in Sanskrit means 'Sage of the Shakyas', nickname applied to Gautama Buddha
Shakyamuni Buddha statue in Tawang town. Shakyamuni, in Sanskrit means 'Sage of the Shakyas', nickname applied to Gautama Buddha
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India


In sight, abandoned bunkers which once served during Indo-China war over half a century ago, are now taken over by earth. The green grass hides tales of sacrifices and triumphs, much like the riders who blazed down the hills in Tawang, who sacrificed their blood and sweat to log-in the fastest time down the mountain. We're at the world's highest altitude Enduro mountain bike race in the land of Monpa tribe, called MONDURO.
 

Monduro 3.0 jersey reveal by the Hon ble Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Shri Pema Khandu.

Pre-race briefing

​​​​​Pre-race briefing www.Monduro.in
Wiryavan AT from Indonesia took care of accurate race timings.
Wiryavan AT from Indonesia took care of accurate race timings. www.Monduro.in

Monduro 3.0 Opening ceremony by the hands of Hon ble Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Shri Pema Khandu.

 

Street procession part of Tawang s annual traditional festival.


The 2 day, 10 stage Enduro race kicked into its 3rd year earlier this winter. Flagged off by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Shri Pema Khandu, who is also a fitness enthusiast and has backed the Monduro event since its inception in 2021. With special stages dropping in from 4400m, Monduro can be challenging for the lungs and limbs. Into its third year, "Monduro 3.0" saw some of the fastest enduro competitors from Indonesia, Nepal, UK and India.
 

Roof top shuttle rides while on earth s roof at 4400mts.

 

Riders set for a long day of racing ahead.

 

Nepal s rocket Rajesh Magar ready for lift off.

 

Seasoned DH Enduro racer Apshai Niangti from Meghalaya dropping in on Stage-1 of Day-2.

 

Hyderabad s Prajwal Pingali comes from a town that is relatively flat but quickly adapted to Tawang s mega descents.

 

Meghalaya s Aaron Kharpuri styling it mid race landing him a 6th place finish overall.

 

Apshai Niangti holding on to his bars through the stages. 5th fastest for the weekend.

Race boots off, work boots on! Gautam Taode, India's National Downhill Champion has been working behind the race tapes to power up MONDURO.
Race boots off, work boots on! Gautam Taode, India's National Downhill Champion has been working behind the race tapes to power up MONDURO. www.Monduro.in


While the trails in Tawang may bottom out your full squish bikes, Monduro also includes a Hardtail category. Hard back jockeys bounced their way down roots, ruts, rocks, jumps, partying their way down the 10 stages.
 

Hardtail bouncers. Cranking his 0mm travel frame as fast as his elder brother Ridor Niangti rolling into the white pow section of Stage-1 Day-2 .

 

Part of the trail dig team of Monduro 3.0 Ridor rode the 10 stages with more flow than the melting snow. On top of the podium in Hardtail category.

 

A surprised Yak observes the uncommon mountain biker speeding down one of Tawang s cattle trails.

 

Hiking up higher onto the next stage start line.

Cranking up high on white pow. Some of the 'Special Stages' of Monduro drop in from 4400m. Thin air, full energy race starts at the world's highest altitude enduro mountain bike race - MONDURO in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Cranking up high on white pow. Some of the 'Special Stages' of Monduro drop in from 4400m. Thin air, full energy race starts at the world's highest altitude enduro mountain bike race - MONDURO in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India. www.Monduro.in

India s National Downhill Champion Ismamul Howk from Assam keeping his best Enduro foot forward with a 4th fastest timing for Monduro 3.0.

 

British Nepali mountain bomber Chris Keeling from Kathmandu Nepal blurred through the 10 stages taking home the third place trophy.

 

Monduro blending in prayer flags and race tapes. Chris Keeling in his holy zone.

Abandoned bunkers in the Tawang hills echo tales of the 1962 war between India and China.
Abandoned bunkers in the Tawang hills echo tales of the 1962 war between India and China.

Speed and finesse Rama Teguh from Indonesia raising the heat in Tawang.

 

Taking the fastest way down the Himalayan rocks Rama speeding through to a 2nd place on the podium.

 

A different kind of Yak spotted in Tawang s forest.

 

Making his way down sharp trails of Monduro Nepal s Rajesh Magar.

 

After 2 days 10 stages of racing Nepal s Rajesh Magar aka RJ Ripper took home the big win.

 

Buddhist monks considering taking up a new sport.

 

The Monduro 3.0 Champions Full Suspension . Rajesh Magar - Nepal 1st Rama Teguh - Indonesia 2nd and Christopher Keeling - Great Britain 3rd

RJ Ripper - Winner of the 3rd Edition of "MONDURO" in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India. World's highest altitude enduro mountain bike race.
RJ Ripper - Winner of the 3rd Edition of MONDURO in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India. World's highest altitude enduro mountain bike race. www.Monduro.in

The Hardtail heroes. Monduro 3.0 Champions Hardtail . Ridor Niangti - India 1st Aldon Shylla - India 2nd and Lamphang - India 3rd

 

We are family


As the 3rd edition of Monduro wrapped up, brighter news for the future editions rolled in. The organizers are in talks about introducing Monduro as one of the stops in the Asia Enduro Series.
 

Styling it into the golden skies of Tawang Rama Teguh. Photo Malav Dutta.

A big shout out to all the volunteers, race marshals, friends and family for supporting Monduro.

The 3rd Edition of Monduro was made possible with the support from,
Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh - Shri Pema Khandu
Arunachal Pradesh Tourism Department
Tawang Cycling Association
Spoke Hub Cycling
WhackyTalky.in
GT Adventures
NAC Cycling
Hyve Sports
Travel with Kora
Freerider Mountain Bike eMagazine
 

Monduro 3.0 and its colours. Rider Vinay Menon www.vinaymenon.com


\\ About the Author: A pioneering athlete, Vinay Menon has been on the forefront of promoting Downhill/Freeride mountain biking in India for over two decades. A Sports Filmmaker and Journalist, Vinay shares action sports tales on several media platforms.

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