Athletes Gather in the Desert as Ultra Gobi 400km Challenge and 121km Team Race Begin
Guazhou, Gansu – October 2, 2025: The stage is set for one of the world’s most demanding endurance tests, the Ultra Gobi 400. On the eve of the race, 57 athletes from across the globe gathered at the Gobi Spring resort for the traditional meet-and-greet, where competitors shared stories, formed connections, and prepared for the immense challenge ahead.
Among the favourites are Zheng Junyue, the Chinese superstar, and Sangé Sherpa, last year’s runner-up and ITRA’s highest-ranked entrant with 925 points. American Cody Poskin (708) and Slovakian Sona Kopcokova (547) are also expected to make their mark. Kopcokova, who gained her entry through the organisers’ Dreamers Programme, spoke emotionally about pursuing her long-held goal: “It has been a dream of mine ever since. My next dream is to finish one of the world’s toughest desert races.”
British ultra-runners Jonathan Shield (ITRA score: 723) and Melissa Venables are also on the start line. Shield reflected on his own journey into the sport: “First it was 10 kilometres, then a half marathon, then I ran a full marathon, and continued to push my limits.” Like many of his fellow competitors, he sees the Ultra Gobi 400 as a potentially life-changing experience. Venables, too, will be looking to test herself against the unforgiving desert conditions and one of the world’s toughest endurance challenges.
This year’s 400km race officially begins at 9:30 p.m. on October 3, with runners departing every 15 seconds. Participants have 141 hours to cover the course, which stretches across remote desert terrain with 3,000m of elevation gain. With no cut-off points on the route, athletes will need to employ diverse strategies to survive and succeed.
Meanwhile, the 121km A Team race is already underway. Kicking off at 9:00 a.m. on October 2, the first stage covered nearly 32 kilometres along the ancient westbound trail, featuring a mix of desert flats, saline-alkali land, and gravel roads. The day’s top three teams were:
- School of Management, Xiamen University
- School of Management, Fudan University
- Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business
Adding to the excitement, last year’s 400km champion, Bryon Powell, has returned, not as a competitor, but as a live broadcast commentator, bringing the grit and drama of the Ultra Gobi to audiences around the world.
As night falls in the Gobi, anticipation builds. For some, it is the pursuit of victory. For others, it is the fulfilment of a dream. Tomorrow night, they all set out together into the vast desert, chasing one of the ultimate challenges in endurance sport.
