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The fourth annual 268 kilometer “Tour of the Dragon” mountain bike race, taking place on September 7th, 2013 will provide its participants an opportunity to test their endurance and mountain bike skills like no other race in the world. With rugged terrain, quickly changing altitudes, and spectacular surroundings, this one-day MTB race offers the 25 registered riders to date, including last year’s winner, Sonam, who completed the 2012 race in a record time of 11 hours, and Sandra Walters, a professional cross-country mountain bike racer from Canada who is representing Canada at the UCI MTB World Champs 2013, a chance to test their skills and to prove their endurance in a stunning natural setting that remains largely untouched. Starting in Bumthang, the event crosses four high mountain passes before concluding at the clock tower in the capital city of Thimphu. While the distance of the race is an extreme challenge, the weather can also play a huge part in the ability of the riders to cross the finish line. The riders will also have the high elevation and extreme variation of altitude to deal with. The 268-kilometer (approx. 166-mile) race spans elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,340 meters (3,937 to 10,958 feet), and riders gain 3,790 meters (12,434 feet) in total during the race. His Royal Highness, Prince Jigyel U. Wangchuck, who is a biking enthusiast and President of the Bhutan Olympic Committee, conceived the race and is one of the few people who have completed it in record time. There is still time to register if you think you have what it takes to complete this grueling mountain bike race. Registration officially closes on August 28th. Please visit http://www.tourofthedragon.com for all the details on the race and registration information.

Nanjing, China: Tall, dark and “sporty”, 15-year old Pema Thinley studying in the 9th grade at the Lungtenzampa Middle Secondary School from Bhutan (NOC – Bhutan Olympic Committee) is here in Nanjing, China at the 2nd Asian Youth Games to representing his country in the Boys 200m run. “It is a very good experience for me as I get to meet people from different cultural backgrounds and learn a lot of things every day,” he said cheerfully. The athletes from China and Myanmar are already in his ‘best buddies’ list. Moreover, he really enjoys the hospitality given by his Chinese friends. With the delicious food at the Athletes Village, although the same menu every day, he still enjoys the food. Getting into a group and chatting; proudly talking about Bhutan- its culture and environment and making his friends go mad to come to Bhutan; and visiting the Asian Cultural Village to see different nation’s kiosks, which he finds very interesting, are ways to spend his free time. It’s pretty much the same for all athletes I guess, since they do not have TV’s in their rooms. And visiting China for the first time, he has been busy observing all the developmental activities here which are very different from his homeland. He finds the training centers out here relatively better with more facilities. He also agreed that his athlete friends from other countries seem much better than him which has all the more encouraged and inspired him to practice better for future events. He absolutely enjoys his free life at the Athletes’ village and he shall have all the fun memories to take back home. “Actually, no, I don’t want to go back to school. I want to stay here forever like this,” he said giggling as he expressed all his gratitude towards the Olympic Council of Asia and the BOC at the end. He feels fortunate for having been given this opportunity and “with more practice and training”, he promises to come back next year for the Youth Olympics. Yes, a young Usain Bolt in the making! Article and photo courtesy of Olympic Council of Asia Newsletter