The Wulong Mountain Quest (WMQ) has now become the most prestigious adventure race in Asia. In 2009 the race will be held for the seventh time in Wulong County, southern China. Wulong is an area of outstanding beauty with limestone mountains, the deep Wulong river gorge and the high plateau of the Fairy Meadow National Forrest Park. All these areas and many more, will be traversed by the race course.
To make the race more appealing to international teams, in 2008 sponsors have increased the price purse by 50% totalling 150,000 US $ which is now up for grabs. The format of the race is a three day stage race, teams of 4, with daily racing time of between 6 and 9 hours. The race course includes technical mountain biking on single track trails with steep, fast decent and long uphill slogs as well as running over fantastic small mountain trails, through narrow gorges and along enormous cliffs. A short prologue will be held the day before the race. Nights will be spent in a comfortable race hotel.
The race is limited to 25 teams on a first come basis.
The 2008 edition was a tremendous success with 19 international and 4 Chinese teams battling it out in the mountains of Wulong. The yellow jersey of the race leader changed hands every day with Team Adventure Sport NZ (New Zealand) overall beating Team Wilsa Helly Hansen (France/New Zealand) by a mere few minutes.
After the head to head racing in 2008, we have decided to stick to the rule of every team having to include at least one female athlete. This seems to have evened out the field and was appreciated by all teams.
In 2009, a grand opening ceremony will be held in the central stadium in Chongqing in front of a huge crowed with Day 0 being raced through the streets of one of China’s largest city the next day. Paddling on the mighty Yangtsee might be part of the prologue.
The Wulong Mountain Quest prides itself with being a race from athletes for athletes. All the top staff of the course team are enthusiastic athletes themselves and between them have taken part in races on all 6 continents. Apart from the stunning Wulong scenery, it is the race staff and the Chinese people lining the course that make this race so special.
