Following its inaugural season in 2025, the international downhill mountain biking championship returns with three distinctive races across Sikkim, Ladakh and Pune, bringing some of the world’s leading riders to India’s mountains
India’s diverse mountain landscapes offer enormous potential for competitive adventure sports, yet professional mountain biking remains relatively underdeveloped. Zabarvan Xtreme, an Indian adventure sports organisation, is working to change this through the Zabarvan Legends Series (ZLS), an international downhill mountain biking championship that brings accomplished international riders together with emerging Indian athletes.
Founded by Sehan Shetty, a snowboarder, surfer and football player, Zabarvan Xtreme grew from his experience of pursuing adventure sports in India, where athletes often face limited access to specialised equipment, professional training, competitive opportunities and financial support.
“Zabarvan Xtreme was created to build an ecosystem for mountain sports where Indian athletes can thrive and see these disciplines as serious sporting opportunities rather than simply hobbies,” says Shetty.
From Gulmarg To The Northeast: The 2025 Debut
The inaugural Zabarvan Legends Series, held in October 2025, travelled across Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir, Shillong in Meghalaya and Guwahati in Assam.
More than 30 riders participated, including Brazil’s Douglas Vieira, Australia’s Samuel Hill, the Czech Republic’s Matej Charvat and Iran’s Hossein Zanjanian. Vieira, a five time Brazilian national champion, emerged as the overall winner.
The series demonstrated India’s potential to host international downhill racing across varied landscapes while giving Indian riders valuable exposure to professional competition.
Building on that experience, Season 2 introduces three new destinations, each with a distinct course inspired by its landscape and regional heritage.
Singge Oralo: Sikkim’s Snow Lion
The opening race, Singge Oralo, held from 7 to 11 October 2026 at Zoom village in Sikkim, brought international downhill racing to the Eastern Himalayas.
Named Snow Lion, the 2 km course descended 200 metres through dense Himalayan forests at approximately 900 metres altitude. Riders navigated steep, loamy trails, exposed roots, narrow tunnels, rocky drops and centuries old granite stairways passing through historic mountain settlements.
With gradients reaching 40 degrees, the course demanded precision and adaptability as riders moved between soft forest soil, slippery roots and unforgiving stone surfaces.
The competition was inaugurated by Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), reflecting the state’s interest in developing adventure sports and tourism. Lokesh Sharma of Sokpa served as the local organiser, bringing regional knowledge and support to the international event.
The race attracted participants from eight countries, including India, Brazil, Australia, Iran, the Czech Republic, Taiwan, Nepal and Italy.
International Champions And Indian Talent
Brazil’s Douglas Vieira continued his winning streak, securing first place in the elite category. Czech rider Matej Charvat finished second, followed by Iran’s Hossein Zanjanian in third. Australian mountain biking legend Samuel Hill, an eight-time world champion, finished fourth.
Nepal’s Nirav Shrestha secured seventh place, while Indian riders Taitus Marak, Virendra Mali and Aaronson Oniel Kharpuri finished eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.
The second competition category saw encouraging performances from Indian riders, with Will Willbornson of Meghalaya finishing second and Darian Laloo of Meghalaya Pro Cycling securing third. Pushkar Regmi, representing Zabarvan EPIC, finished fourth.
Other participants included Ismamul Howk, Edgar Nonglait, Siddharth Khandelwal, Jenek Khumanthem, Rikzing Nedup Bhutia and Kaushal Kaushal.
The results highlighted the growing enthusiasm for downhill mountain biking in India, particularly in the northeastern states, where challenging terrain has encouraged dedicated cycling communities.
Druk Layul: Racing At The Roof Of The World
The championship now moves to Ladakh for Druk Layul, scheduled from 14 to 18 October 2026 at South Pullu, near the gateway to Khardung La.
Named after the legendary Tibetan Thunder Dragon, Druk Layul, meaning Thunder Dragon’s Heaven, presents an extraordinary high-altitude challenge in the stark Trans Himalayan landscape.
The approximately 3.5 km downhill course begins at an altitude of 4,300 metres and descends to 3,700 metres, with an elevation drop of around 600 metres. Riders will negotiate loose shale, rocky chutes, exposed traverses, technical switchbacks and fast sections punctuated by jumps and drops.
Approximately 25 athletes are expected to participate, competing in one of the world’s most demanding high-altitude environments. Thin air, rugged terrain and temperatures ranging from minus 5°C to 15°C will test both physical endurance and technical ability. Riders will be given two days to acclimatise before racing.
The Secretary of Tourism has been invited as Chief Guest, reflecting the event’s potential to promote Ladakh as a destination for international adventure sports.
The event is being organised in partnership with Unexplored Ladakh, a local mountain biking and adventure travel company, represented by Tenjin Jamphel. Its knowledge of the region, experience in mountain biking and familiarity with local terrain are important to developing the competition.
Already recognised internationally for trekking, mountaineering and adventure tourism, Ladakh offers considerable potential for competitive mountain biking. Zabarvan Xtreme envisages a longer-term association with the region, with the aim of establishing recurring competitions, encouraging local participation and creating opportunities for young Ladakhi riders.
Gaur Ghat: Downhill Racing Meets Maratha Heritage
The final leg, Gaur Ghat, will take place from 22 to 25 October 2026 in Pune, Maharashtra, beneath the historic walls of Sinhagad Fort.
Named after the historic mountain pass leading towards Sinhagad, the race draws inspiration from the landscape and heritage of the Maratha heartland.
Set at approximately 1,300 metres altitude, the 2.2 km course features a challenging 400 metre descent through the rugged Sahyadri mountains.
Unlike the Himalayan courses, Gaur Ghat presents dry basalt terrain, loose gravel, exposed bedrock, steep rock faces, technical switchbacks and rough rock gardens. Riders will descend ancient hillside trails once connecting villages and fortifications, passing through forested sections and exposed ridgelines overlooking the valleys below.
The course demands speed, control and careful line selection, offering a striking contrast to Sikkim’s forest trails and Ladakh’s high altitude desert.
Pune’s active cycling community, young population and proximity to outdoor recreation destinations make it a promising centre for competitive mountain biking. Through Gaur Ghat, Zabarvan Xtreme hopes to place Pune on the international mountain biking map.
Building A Future For Indian Mountain Sports
Beyond the competition, the Zabarvan Legends Series seeks to address the challenges facing Indian mountain biking, including expensive equipment, limited training infrastructure, insufficient sponsorship and a shortage of professional racing opportunities.
Bringing international competitors to India allows local athletes to experience professional racing standards without travelling abroad. Equally important is the collaboration with local organisers and mountain biking communities, whose participation can help sustain the sport beyond individual events.
The series also offers opportunities for adventure tourism, local employment and sporting infrastructure, provided development remains sensitive to the fragile environments in which these races take place.
From Gulmarg, Shillong and Guwahati in 2025 to Sikkim, Ladakh and Pune in 2026, the Zabarvan Legends Series is establishing a growing national footprint.
For Zabarvan Xtreme, the ambition extends beyond successful races. It is about building a lasting ecosystem in which Indian athletes can train, compete internationally and pursue mountain sports professionally, while positioning India’s extraordinary landscapes on the global mountain biking circuit.
