The Gobi March 2012 takes place 10 – 16 June and is one of the events that comprise the 4 Deserts series of 250-kilometer 6 day stage races and starts in China’s ancient Gobi Desert in Kashgar.
163 competitors will participate in the ninth edition of the event including Germany’s Anne-Marie Flammersfeld and Canadian Stephanie Case, 29, women’s champion of RacingThePlanet: Nepal 2011.
Spain’s Vicente Juan Garcia Beneito, 36, who was the overall champion of the Atacama Crossing (Chile) 2012, is the favorite to win the men’s category.
Says RacingThePlanet founder Mary Gadams: “The Gobi March 2012 is shaping up to be an incredibly competitive race in the women’s competition with three recent champions taking part. I’m especially excited to see so many countries represented with a large number from Greater China and across Asia as the sport continues to develop at a rapid pace.”
The annual Gobi March is a self-supported race. With the exception of water and a place in a tent, competitors are required to carry all of their equipment, supplies and food for the duration of the race.
In total, 18 competitors are in the hunt for the 4 Deserts Grand Slam – completing the Atacama Crossing, the Gobi March, October’s Sahara Race and The Last Desert in Antarctica all within a single calendar year.
Flammersfeld and Garcia Beneito, competitors such as Indian psychologist Shrimathi Swaminathan and French journalist Cecile Bertin are aiming for to reach the rare achievement. American student, James Gaston, 21, is extending the challenge to complete all 1,250 kilometers of RacingThePlanet events in 2012 – only two people have achieved this to-date. He is competing with his sister, Tara Gaston.
The Gobi March will again support the Esquel Y.L. Yang Education Fund through various fundraising activities in the local area, including providing a computer lab for one of the local schools.
Race website: www.gobimarch.com
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