Nepal’s first pump track, nestled along the banks of the Bagmati river in Lalitpur Metropolitan City’s ward 1, comes alive every day with children, teenagers and youths showcasing their skills on bicycles and skates.

The track, which opened in November 2022, sees bursts of activity in the mornings and evenings on weekdays; and on weekends and holidays, it buzzes with excitement all day long. By all accounts, it has been a remarkable success, highlighting the country’s vibrant cycling culture.

The track is now set to attract global attention as it is hosting a qualifier for the prestigious Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships on May 31 in what is the first time the event is being organised in Nepal.

Nepal’s rising pump track talent will now compete for a shot at the global stage on their home ground.

Pump track is a time-based cycling race where riders generate speed without pedalling, using body movements to “pump” through rollers and banked turns. The goal is to complete the track in the fastest time.

The event in Nepal is one of the 19 qualifiers across the globe. The qualifiers kicked off in Rotorua, New Zealand, on March 1. The top athletes from the qualifiers will progress to the final in the city of Monthey in Switzerland on September 5.

The event—which is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the worldwide governing body for cycling, and Nepal Cycling Association—is being organised by ZeroLevel MTB School and Himalayan Single Track in coordination with Lalitpur Metropolitan City and its ward 1.

The upcoming event is the seventh edition of the championship, which began in 2018. “We are excited to host a qualifier for the world championship for the first time in Nepal,” said Raj Gyawali of Himali Riders, a premier mountain biking club that coordinated the track’s construction in Nepal.

Gyawali, a member of the organising team, informed that the qualifier could be brought to Nepal thanks to the world-class pump track in Lalitpur.

The track in Lalitpur, constructed as a part of the Pump for Peace project of Velosolutions, is open 24/7 and free for all, Gyawali said. “The track has attracted hundreds of cyclists,” he said. “Now the track will pave the way for them to compete at the biggest platform in the world.” Velosolutions has also constructed a pump track in Nepalgunj.

Jenny Caunt, co-founder of Himalayan Single Track, the local organiser, said that organising the Nepal qualifier was not easy. In fact, the event was initially scheduled for April 12. When asked about the reason for the delay, Caunt offered a blunt reply: “What? The truth? Politics.”

Caunt added, “Now we are all set. We expect participation from not only Nepali athletes, but foreigners as well.”

Organisers said that the qualifier in Nepal, or any other part of the world, is not limited to the cyclists of the respective region or territory.

“We might have participants from Japan, Bhutan, India and New Zealand, among other countries,” Gyawali said. “Foreigners, alongside Nepalis, will compete for the top four spots each in the men’s and women’s elite categories and secure a berth in the final in Switzerland.”

A cyclist from any part of the world, including Nepal, can participate in as many qualifiers as they want. They will, however, need an official UCI ID or any kind of cycling license from the respective national cycling association to compete in the elite category—the only pathway to the World Championships.

Beyond the elite division, the event includes multiple other categories, for both male and female, for children (under 11), youth (11-13 years of age), junior (14-18 years of age) and masters (31+)—offering a chance to compete in a fun, inclusive environment.

Regarding whether the event would be affected by rain, Caunt said that the outdoor event would not be put on hold unless it is raining heavily with strong wind and lightning.

The qualifier in Arrubal, Spain, on May 17 was the eighth qualifier to conclude since the one in New Zealand. After Nepal, the qualifiers are being hosted by China, Canada, Slovakia, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden and Armenia.

Armenia is the other country with Nepal that will be hosting the qualifier for the first time.

Gyawali said that after the qualifiers, they have bigger dreams.

“If everything goes well, we will even try to bring the World Championship to Nepal soon,” he said.