HURTLING DOWN A STEEP, UNTRACKED SLOPE in soft spring snow, we could easily be in the High Alps of central Europe. But a glance up, away from the important task of not going over the bars, reveals the glistening Mediterranean Sea. We're not in France or Switzerland, but some 2,000km south-east of there, at 2,365m altitude on the Turkish Riviera.
Lap of the gods
Like many of the best adventures, this one came about by chance. My girlfriend is half Turkish and, on a trip to visit her family, I decided to find out what riding was available. Luckily for me, I happened across Aybars Sürücü in an online MTB forum. He's part of the team that organises the Sky to Sea enduro race, from the summit of Mount Olympos (not to be confused with Greece's Mt Olympus) to the tourist hotspot of Kemer and its stunning turquoise waters.
Details of the event were hard to come by, but I did ascertain the race is organised by the same crew who put on the Sea to Sky 'Hard Enduro', one of the toughest motorbike races in the world, which takes place on the same mountain. I was beyond excited, so set about assembling a group of riders, all hailing from South Wales, who'd fancy riding into the unknown with me.
Athletes' accommodation
This story is from the August 2022 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2022 edition of Mountain Biking UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BIKETEST BACKCOUNTRY HARDTAILS
We see whether carbon fibre or steel, big-name value or boutique attention to detail comes out on top on the trails
NUKEPROOF MEGAWATT CARBON 297 RS
The original Megawatt proved itself almost instantly, winning our inaugural E-Bike of the Year award in 2022.
CALIBRE LINE T3 29
£1,100 (with £5 GO Outdoors card) Cost-effective proper' mountain bike
FIRST RIDES
STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX & ONTO THE TRAILS
ROUTES QUICK BLASTS
Facing shorter days and inclement weather, Max finds three satisfying routes that show it doesn't have to be an all-day ride or nothing
GRIME TIME
EXPERT WORKSHOP ADVICE
TRAILCREW HAVOK BIKEPARK
A hand-cut, rider-built bike park, Havok reopened earlier this year at a new site in West Yorkshire and is still expanding
From dust it did rise
Steve Thomas traces the birth of British mountain biking, from 'tracker bikes' to Muddy Fox
THROW DOWN THE CAUNTLET
In our final challenge of the series, we see if e-bikes really are as good at climbing as they're cracked up to be, as we tackle Antur Stiniog back to front
THE RIDER OFF YEAR' 23
THE BIG REVEAL! You voted in your thousands - now meet our winners...