14-24 OCTOBER, 2026

Applications open January 2nd, 2026

The last addition to the series, this is a race that takes riders on an epic journey through Türkiye’s Taurus mountain range, from verdant forests, to soaring rocky peaks, and remote desert plateaus, setting the stage for an unforgettable race. The route is a 1,460 km odyssey that winds its way through some of the most demanding terrain in the country.

The Taurus Mountain Race is a fixed-route, unsupported, single-stage race that begins in Antalya, traverses and then loops around the dramatic heart of the range, before pushing riders onward to the finish on the Mediterranean, west of Mersin. The clock does not stop and there are no prizes. The route follows gravel, single and double track and old livestock tracks that are known only to those who live in these mountains. There is very little tarmac. There is some walking, and at times there is great distances between resupply points.

APPLYING TO RACE

Categories: Racers can ride solo or as a pair

Cost: £420 per rider + £80 tracker rental if required (one tracker per participant for pairs) + £50 media license for sponsored riders

    • Race Logistics: registration, 3 staffed checkpoints, control cars, race media, 24/7 race HQ, team of dotwatchers.

    • Race manual

    • Race GPX track, fully checked and validated by Mountain Race teams on the ground

    • GPS tracker rental if required & online tracking platform provided by Maprogress

    • Race T-Shirt

    • Some goodies provided by our sponsors

    • Numbered Race Cap

    • Bike box transfer to the finish line

    • After party

    • Access to all race photography for personal use at the end of the race

The Taurus Mountain Race is a serious undertaking that should not be underestimated. It takes place in an environment that can be as tough as it is beautiful. It requires not only the ability to ride big days back to back, but also knowledge and experience of self-reliance in a remote, mountainous environment. Although it is definitely a race, your primary concern should always be your own safety. Riders will experience the natural beauty of Türkiye, and the warmth and generosity of its people. It is an experience that will likely stay with you a lifetime.

Ideally riders should have experience with multi-day bikepacking trips, preferably off-road in remote areas. Riders need to understand how to look after themselves in a harsh environment, when they’re exhausted and near their limits.

We don’t want the races to seem like something that is completely off-limits to anyone except the most hardcore bikepacking racers. All those who wish to race will be required to complete an application that assesses your ability to make safe decisions in the mountains.