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.