On the 10th day of racing, the route winds through a crossroads at kilometers 1191, 1347, and 1497 — a place where riders pass three times, each at a different moment in their race. Here, tracks converge and brief encounters are exchanged: a word of encouragement, a story from the road, before paths diverge again. To one side lies the easier descent to Tamga and an early end to their race; to the other, the remote 200-kilometer loop, rough and demanding, yet essential for those pressing on all the way to Karakol.To begin and end the loop, riders traverse Arabel Plateau and over Suyek Pass at 4,020 meters. Suyek means “bone” in Kyrgyz — a name tied to the tragedy of 1916, when thousands lost their lives fleeing across these mountains. The pass leads riders into the wide, open expanse of the Upper Naryn Valley, one of race director Nelson Trees’ favourite landscapes in Kyrgyzstan.Riders featured in this episode: Kayla Hall — Cap 110Rob Waller — Cap 162Konrad Kowara — Cap 112Nol Van Loon — Cap 146Dennis Stegeman — Cap 55Danielle Coffman — Cap 122Marcus Baguley — Cap 124Sandor Boros — Cap 175Ethan Washam — Cap 64Caroline Prigent — Cap 32Matteo Garbellini — Cap 128Alessandra Bussolli — Cap 6Murray Crichton — Cap 139Daniel and Stefan — Caps 307A & 307BAnnie Dunlap — Cap 16Tobias Callister — Cap 196Natalie Anderson — Cap 319AClick here to Dotwatch the raceFollow us on Instagram for daily visual updatesProduction and hosting by Mel WebbSound design by Ben CrannellMusic by BatyrkanCover image by Stephen SheleskyThanks to our race partners Albion, Pertex, Tailfin, Styrkr and Julbo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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