THE ULTRA SPICE RACE
A beautiful, tough, 6 day race through the spice, coffee & tea plantations of south India.
SMELL THE COFFEE!
The Ultra Spice Race has 1200km & 1780km race distances with options of Solo Crew-Supported and Solo-Self Supported RAAM Qualifier, and RAAM Style Relay Team, all starting and finishing in Bogmalo, Goa.
The Solo SELF SUPPORTED Category (ie without crew support) is now a RAAM Qualifier! Briefly this race format is a Stage Race, Bike Packing style but with Drop Bags and night halt provided.
The Races are also on the World Ultra Cycling Association (WUCA) calendar.
8th Edition (2025) Race Details
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Location – Bogmalo Beach, Goa
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Distance – 1200km, 1750km Race
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Start Date – TBD
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Elevation Gain – 14,533m (for 1200km), 24,704m (for 1780km)
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Start Elevation – 0m (0ft) above sea level
2024 Race Schedule
At the Ultra Spice Race, racers need to get their equipment inspected and attend briefings at the pre-race venue. Detailed schedule for meetings, briefings, and inspection slot bookings will be sent to racers on email upon completing online registration. Listed below is an outline of the schedule of the Ultra Spice Race Edition 7 (2024):
Sunday 2 February - Pre-Race inspection and briefings of all racers
Monday 3 February - Race Flag Off
Thursday 6 February - 1200km racers finish
Saturday 8 to Sunday 9 February - 1770km racers finish
Ultra Spice 1200km
Race Route
The 1200km ‘out and back’ race was introduced for the first time in the 4th edition in Jan 2020. The Race starts in Bogmalo, Goa heads south along the Coast road, heading inland from Honavar towards Jog Falls. Rolling terrain soon turns into a steady climb up the Western Ghats to Jog Falls and Shivmoga. The Route continues to Chikmmagalur through forests and coffee and spice plantations, and continues till Madikeri in Coorg. The distance of 1200 Km has a the total elevation gain of almost 14,500 Mts.
Metrics
Distance: 1200km
Elevation Gain: 14,533m
Highest Point: Madikeri at 1,236m above sea level
Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41662236 (Updated on 10th Jan 2023, Route for 7th Edition- 2024 will be updated in early December)
Categories and Timings:
Solo Crew-Supported RAAM Qualifier
SOLO is just that…. Solo! Solo racers ride the entire distance, while their crew provides them with full support. Solo Racers at The Ultra Spice Race Qualify for The Race Across America if they finish within the RQ timings. Categories and Timings are based on Racing Age and Gender. (Racing Age is the age each Racer will turn during the calendar year of the race i.e. year of race minus birth year).
Category Code | Category | RQ Cut Off (Hrs) |
|---|---|---|
A | RQ Women 50+ | 79:00:00 |
B | RQ Women 18-49 | 75:00:00 |
C | RQ Men 50+ | 75:00:00 |
D | RQ Men 18-49 | 70:00:00 |
Solo Self-Supported RAAM Qualifier
The self-supported race is a new racing format at Inspire India. With no support crew and vehicle requirement, and minimal support from the organisers, enjoy this lush green route on your own steam! With 2 stages to race at, racers get a rest break in between to recharge.
Format:
The Self-Supported format is derived from bike-packing wherein racers are self-sufficient for their needs during the race. Racers can ride along with other self-supported racers. Most importantly, racers do not require a crew to support them at the race. The Ultra Spice Self-Supported is now a RAAM Qualifier, racers finishing the race within the cut-off timimgs will qualify for Race Across America.
At the Ultra Spice 1200 Self-Supported, the race is divided into two stages. After a mass start at Stage 1, racers get a rest break at end of Stage 2. Drop bag facility will be available and racers can access drop bags at multiple locations. Accommodation will be available at end of stage 1 in Madikeri. The cumulative time (Sum of Stage 1 and Stage 2 finish times) will determine the positions on podium.
Stages:
Stage 1: 600km Bogmalo Beach to Madikeri
Stage 2: 600km Madikeri to Bogmalo Beach
Category Code | Category | Cut Off (Hrs) | Stage 2 Cut Off (Hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
E | SS Women 50+ | 45:00:00 | 45:00:00 |
F | SS Women 18-49 | 43:00:00 | 43:00:00 |
G | SS Men 50+ | 43:00:00 | 43:00:00 |
H | SS Men 18-49 | 40:00:00 | 40:00:00 |
RAAM Style Relay
The team event is a relay (not a peloton) of 2, 3 or 4 members. Team members take turns riding, while other/s rest in the support vehicle and move up the road. Teams have the freedom to decide how often you swap riders, how long each member rides and how much distance each covers. As a collective, the team must ride the entire route without exception. Categories and Timings are based on Team Age and Gender. Team Age is the average racing age of all Team members (total number of years divided by 2,3 or 4 depending on team size). Racing Age is the age each Racer will turn during the calendar year of the race (year of race minus birth year).
Category Code | Category | Cut Off (Hrs) |
|---|---|---|
1 | All Women 50+ | 60:00:00 |
2 | All Women 35-49 | 60:00:00 |
3 | All Women 18-34 | 60:00:00 |
4 | Mixed 50+ | 60:00:00 |
5 | All Men 50+ | 60:00:00 |
6 | Mixed 35-49 | 60:00:00 |
7 | All Men 35-49 | 60:00:00 |
8 | Mixed 18-34 | 60:00:00 |
9 | All Men 18-34 | 60:00:00 |
Ultra Spice 1780
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Race Route
The longest Ultracycle race in India, the race approaches Madikeri through the spectacular coffee and spice plantations of Coorg. Then the route descends down from the Sahyadris to Iritty in Kerala before heading up to Wayanad. Heading into the Nilgiri mountains through Eucalyptus trees the route climbs up to Ooty at 2200Mt through a winding 25 km route. Turning around the route returns the same way back to Goa. The distance 1780 Km has a the total elevation gain of 24,704 Mts.
Metrics
Distance: 1780km
Elevation Gain: 24,704m
Highest Point: Ooty at 2,260m above sea level
Tentative Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41662176 (Updated on 10th Jan 2023, Route for 7th Edition- 2024 will be updated in early December)
Categories and Timings:
Solo Crew-Supported RAAM Qualifier
SOLO is just that…. Solo! Solo racers ride the entire distance, while their crew provides them with full support. Solo Racers at The Ultra Spice Race Qualify for The Race Across America if they finish within the RQ timings. Categories and Timings are based on Racing Age and Gender. (Racing Age is the age each Racer will turn during the calendar year of the race i.e. year of race minus birth year).
Category Code | Category | RQ Cut Off (Hrs) |
|---|---|---|
A | RQ Women 50+ | 132:00:00 |
B | RQ Women 18-49 | 132:00:00 |
C | RQ Men 50+ | 132:00:00 |
D | RQ Men 18-49 | 123:00:00 |
Solo Self-Supported RAAM Qualifier
The self-supported race is a new racing format at Inspire India. With no support crew and vehicle requirement, and minimal support from the organisers, enjoy this lush green route on your own steam! With 2 stages to race at, racers get a rest break in between to recharge.
Format:
The Self-Supported format is derived from bike-packing wherein racers are self-sufficient for their needs during the race. Racers can ride along with other self-supported racers. Most importantly, racers do not require a crew to support them at the race. The Ultra Spice 1780 Self-Supported is now a RAAM Qualifier, racers finishing the race within cut-off timings will qualify for Race Across America. At the Ultra Spice 1780 Self-Supported, the race is divided into three stages. After a mass start at Stage 1, racers get a rest break at end of the stage. Stage 2 will have another mass start from where racers will race non-stop to the finish. There is no rest break between end of Stage 2 and start of Stage 3. Drop bag facility will be available and racers can access drop bags at multiple locations. Accommodation will be available at end of stage 1 in Kalpetta. The cumulative time (Sum of Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 finish times) will determine the positions on podium.
Stages:
Stage 1: 770km Bogmalo Beach to Kalpetta
Stage 2: 235km Kalpetta to Ooty and back to Kalpetta
Stage 3: 770km Kalpetta to Bogmalo Beach
Category Code | Category | Stage 1 Cut Off (Hrs) | Min Rest between Stage 1 and Stage 2 | Stage 2 Cut Off (Hrs) | Stage 3 Cut Off (Hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
E | SS Women 50+ | 69:00:00 | 4:00:00 | 16:00:00 | 79:00:00 |
F | SS Women 18-49 | 64:00:00 | 4:00:00 | 16:00:00 | 74:00:00 |
G | SS Men 50+ | 64:00:00 | 4:00:00 | 16:00:00 | 74:00:00 |
H | SS Men 18-49 | 60:00:00 | 4:00:00 | 16:00:00 | 68:00:00 |
RAAM Style Relay
The team event is a relay (not a peloton) of 2, 3 or 4 members. Team members take turns riding, while other/s rest in the support vehicle and move up the road. Teams have the freedom to decide how often you swap riders, how long each member rides and how much distance each covers. As a collective, the team must ride the entire route without exception. Categories and Timings are based on Team Age and Gender. Team Age is the average racing age of all Team members (total number of years divided by 2,3 or 4 depending on team size). Racing Age is the age each Racer will turn during the calendar year of the race (year of race minus birth year).
Category Code | Category | Cut Off (Hrs) |
|---|---|---|
1 | All Women 50+ | 93:30:00 |
2 | All Women 35-49 | 93:30:00 |
3 | All Women 18-34 | 93:30:00 |
4 | Mixed 50+ | 93:30:00 |
5 | All Men 50+ | 93:30:00 |
6 | Mixed 35-49 | 93:30:00 |
7 | All Men 35-49 | 93:30:00 |
8 | Mixed 18-34 | 93:30:00 |
9 | All Men 18-34 | 93:30:00 |
Rules & Regulations
Guiding Principles:
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Safety of all persons involved
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Running a Clean and Healthy race with a level playing field for all
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Creating a Race of International standards
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Protecting Race integrity and reputation
(The guiding principles will dictate decision making by the Race Committee on any issue not specifically covered in these rules)
Mandatory Pre-Race Requirements:
​Each race has certain mandatory pre-race requirements that racers must meet in order to receive a clearance to race. If racers do not meet with these requirements, their registration may be cancelled and racers may be denied from entry to the event. Please read the requirements carefully before registering for the event.
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Final rules and regulations for the 7th Edition (2024) are under review. In the interim, 6th Edition (2023) rules may be reviewed below.