Four hundred kilometres of challenging routes have been prepared for the 2015 Trans Hajar Mountain Bike Stage Race. The fifth edition of the race will take place from 30 January to 3 February 2015 with competitors pushing themselves to the limit on an all-new route, including Arabia’s highest peak Jebel Shams (3,028 metres). Driven by Oman Cycling Association, the Trans Hajar is a five-stage multi-day mountain bike race that follows the tried and tested format of a prologue followed by four marathon stages.
Stage 1 is a time trial between Jebel Kwar and the staggering Jebel Shams. Riders will complete two laps of a 20km loop including a fast single-track section followed by a climb up to the race village. There will be no time to dwell on aches and pains from the first day’s racing; on the second day the competitors will tackle the longest and toughest stage – a whopping 127km! The route starts at the top of a 2,010m peak and will take riders down the highest mountain pass in Oman before winding its way through deep canyons and meandering mountain trails – a stunning snapshot of this uniquely beautiful country.
Stage 3 sees the riders brave arguably the hardest climb of the race with an ascent of 750m. Once they have completed the mountain assault it’s straight downhill on a single-track section of hard rock. On this third day the competitors will be surrounded by contrasting scenery as the 78km course guides them through plantations and the abandoned villages of Al Hamra.
It doesn’t get any easier from there – Stages 4 and 5 are also full of challenges. During the penultimate stage the riders will face steep gradient climbs of 10% – 20% as they head towards Jebel Shams again. They will then descend the mountain on its south side sweeping along dirt roads before a short climb and a rapid descent to finish the day. For the final day of racing, Stage 5 at 100km takes the riders around the mountain of Jebel Kwar and over hugely diverse terrain encompassing vast desert, water crossings, plantations, big descents and sharp climbs. The Trans Hajar challenges the riders throughout and as the finishing line beckons they will have to give one big last push for home with a very steep climb back to the race village.
The route has been designed to test riders of all abilities and will cover challenging climbs, descents and specially designed single-track as it winds its way through Oman’s unique landscapes of canyons, wadis and river-crossings giving competitors an inside view of this magnificent country.
Oman prides itself on its authenticity, traditions and welcoming approach to visitors and with some of the most untouched biking trails in the world it is a must for globetrotting mountain bikers craving a new challenge with testing terrain and exquisite scenery.
The Trans Hajar is a true endurance event and the dates of the race make it the perfect opportunity to improve form ahead of the upcoming season with past competitors finding it ideal training for the Cape Epic and other early season marathon races. Some of the sport’s most successful riders have entered this year’s race. For those also interested in taking on the Trans Hajar entries close on 25 January 2015. www.transhajar.com
Enter the race now and receive a 1000 dhs discount when you use the following code: sr5433566v. This will reduce the total cost of joining the Trans Hajar Mountain Bike Race to 2820 dhs / 770 USD / 608 EUR / 473 GBP.
Rode this in 2014 over 4 days.
Will be doing it again in 2015.