Annapurna Circuit FKT for Nepali Cyclists

The current Fastest Known time on Nepal's legendary 220 km Annapurna Circuit is 20 hrs and 33 minutes. The challenge is to break this FKT, this time going in the steeper, reverse direction. The goal is to raise enough money to reopen a Training center in Kathmandu for the Nepali riders.

Video from the 2019 fundraiser. : GauravMan Sherchan

From 2017-2019, Kona Adventure Team rider and 24 Hour Solo World Champion Cory Wallace took on the task of raising money to help build a coaching/training center in Nepal. He has been backed by the NCRR (Nepal Cyclists Ride to Rescue, and the MTB World-Wide Organization. His goal has been to complete the Annapurna Circuit in record time, in less than 24 hours. Completing the Annapurna Circuit is a challenging athletic feat on its own as the altitude goes between 800 meters up to 5416 M at ThorongLa Pass. It is comprised of 220km of high-altitude riding while ascending over 6000 meters throughout the process.

Cory completed the Annapurna Circuit in 23 hrs 57 minutes on the first attempt, 22:30 in 2018 and 20 hrs 33 minutes in 2019. He is aiming to keep the trend going this November by setting another fastest-known record on the Annapurna Circuit, but this time in the steeper, reverse direction. His goal is to do it in under 20 hours. For the first two years, $4000 and $9500 CAD was raised. This year the goal is to match the $4000 CAD from year one.

Any money raised will be used to reopen a training center for the Nepali riders in Kathmandu, as it closed down during the Pandemic. A great location has already been found in downtown Kathmandu right beside the MTB Cog bike shop, which is run by retired Nepali racers Rajkumar and Ajay. The cost is approximately 225 per month for rent. Thus if 4 K is raised, $2700 will be used for the first year's rent, and the rest to buy necessary supplies and training equipment to outfit it. We already some indoor trainers, compression pants, a massage gun, yoga mats, and other gear from the first training center. If more than $4000 CAD is raised, the excess funds will be put towards more months of rent and upgrades to the Center.

Lets help these young Nepali Cyclists follow their cycling dreams!