“The route has never been raced before. There are no previous editions, no established fastest times and no inherited race mythology. Riders in the first edition will not be following a proven line through a familiar ultra landscape. They will be part of the first-ever attempt to cross this region in this format." If you are an ultradistance racer looking for a new challenge this year, then the newly launched Race the Nile Uganda Ultra could be just the event you are looking for.
“Race the Nile is not a traditional race. It is an expedition. Spanning 800 kilometres with 10,500 meters of elevation gain and only 3% paved roads, the unsupported ultra-format challenges riders physically and mentally as they traverse the Nile corridor, the Murchison Falls ecosystem, remote savannah landscapes, and the borderlands of South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The route is being developed for the first time. There is no race history. No benchmark.” If you are trying to grab the attention of adventure-loving ultradistance riders who are up for a challenge, then those 75 words which appear in the official press release for the newly launched Race the Nile Uganda Ultra event have done a pretty incredible job.
The organisers go on to say “West Nile remains one of the most culturally diverse yet internationally overlooked regions in Africa. Home to multiple ethnic groups living side by side, the region is defined by living traditions, strong community structures and an authentic relationship between people, land and wildlife. At the same time, it has seen limited exposure to international tourism. Race the Nile is designed to change that — carefully. Not by imposing an event, but by building one from within.”
The overarching ethos of the event is about keeping as much of the benefit of the event within the local region as possible – the organisers are using local tailors to produce race jerseys/caps, getting local craftspeople to create trophies/rider gifts, have organised local food producers to supply checkpoints and the route passes innumerable “community vendors and local services.” As well as trying to keep the financial benefits local, the organisers are promoting the cultural integration aspects too - local communities and cultural institutions have been heavily involved in the creation of the event and grassroots cycling groups such as the West Nile Cycling Club have been actively involved too. The organisers see the event as a catalyst for developing sustainable adventure tourism in the region and their hope is that the event will kick-start “long-term economic opportunities while preserving its environmental and cultural integrity.”
The organisers appreciate some of the challenges involved for participants travelling to the region to take part in the event, so they’ve come up with a “Supports where it matters” ethos. Anyone who signs up will receive the following assistance as part of the package:
- Coordinated arrival via Entebbe International Airport
- Organised transport of riders, bicycles, and luggage to West Nile
- GPS / GSM tracking devices with emergency function for all riders
- Public Live location dot-watching throughout the race
- Four staffed checkpoints along the route
- ICE communication network, safety infrastructure and cooperation with AMREF Flying Doctors
As well as the support listed above, the Race the Nile entry includes the following:
- Race entry and GPX route
- Live GPS tracking
- Athlete package (t-shirt, cap, safety card)
- Local SIM card with 10 days of data
- Checkpoint gifts for riders reaching in time
- Finisher gift
- Pre-race breakfast at the start line
- Full access to race photography
- Closing event
- Safety and support infrastructure
- Curated booklet with insights into West Nile
You can sign up for the event as an individual or as a team. Entries cost from €250 (single) or €200 (per person in a pair). Entries are now open, and you can find more details and sign up on the event website.