Zabarvan Legends Series Brings International Downhill Mountain Biking To Ladakh
Leh, Oct 14: KNT: The Zabarvan Legends Series, an international downhill mountain biking championship aimed at promoting competitive mountain sports in India, has moved to Ladakh following the completion of its opening race in Sikkim, bringing international riders to the high-altitude terrain near Khardung La.
The Ladakh leg, titled Druk Layul, is scheduled to be held from October 14 to 18 at South Pullu, near the gateway to Khardung La. The course is designed to test riders on the challenging Trans-Himalayan terrain, with organisers positioning the event as an opportunity to promote Ladakh as an international destination for adventure sports.
According to the event article, the approximately 3.5-kilometre downhill course starts at an altitude of around 4,300 metres and descends to 3,700 metres, involving an elevation drop of about 600 metres. Riders are expected to negotiate loose shale, rocky chutes, exposed traverses, technical switchbacks and fast sections featuring jumps and drops.
Around 25 athletes are expected to participate in the Ladakh competition. The high altitude, thin air, rugged landscape and temperatures ranging from minus 5 to 15 degrees Celsius are expected to pose significant physical and technical challenges. Riders will be provided two days to acclimatise before racing.
The event is being organised in partnership with Unexplored Ladakh, a local mountain biking and adventure travel company represented by Tenjin Jamphel. The Secretary of Tourism has been invited as chief guest, reflecting the event’s potential to promote adventure tourism in the region.
The series’ second season began with the Singge Oralo race, held from October 7 to 11 at Zoom village in Sikkim. The two-kilometre course, named Snow Lion, descended 200 metres through Himalayan forests and included steep trails, exposed roots, rocky drops and historic granite stairways.
Brazil’s Douglas Vieira won the elite category, followed by Czech rider Matej Charvat in second place and Iran’s Hossein Zanjanian in third. Australian mountain biking champion Samuel Hill finished fourth. Indian riders Taitus Marak, Virendra Mali and Aaronson Oniel Kharpuri finished eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.
The championship will conclude with the Gaur Ghat race in Pune, Maharashtra, from October 22 to 25, beneath the historic walls of Sinhagad Fort. The 2.2-kilometre course in the Sahyadri mountains features a descent of approximately 400 metres over dry basalt terrain, loose gravel, rock gardens and technical switchbacks.
Founded by Sehan Shetty, Zabarvan Xtreme aims to create greater opportunities for Indian athletes through international competition, professional exposure and collaboration with local mountain biking communities. The series also seeks to address challenges facing the sport in India, including expensive equipment, limited training infrastructure, inadequate sponsorship and a shortage of professional racing opportunities.
The inaugural season in 2025 featured races in Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir, Shillong in Meghalaya and Guwahati in Assam. This year’s expansion to Sikkim, Ladakh and Pune is intended to build a wider national platform for competitive downhill mountain biking while creating opportunities for adventure tourism and local participation. [KNT]
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