The Stone King Rally took place last weekend in the mountainous setting of Europe’s Southwestern Alps. It puts your whole body and mind to the ultimate test, travelling over 260km in six days with around 23,000m of flowing down incredible singletrack. 

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Thrown in this are shuttles taking riders to unseen places within a multi-day setting. No surprise, it’s considered one of the world’s toughest mountain bike race. But with an enduro race format, is this long-distance rally like this really about the racing? Or is it to open the doors to a wider community focus, collaborations, adventure tourism growth and to give riders access to routes never linked in such a way?

Ash Smith is the man with the imagination connecting trails, some unused, but all that has been forged through the years. Connecting small communities who may have yet to hear of mountain biking. Not only creating a platform to make memories but also bringing people together in a unique way.

This edit takes you on a snippet of what this event means. Epic singletracks, local culture, a mountainous backdrop and fresh trail links created a seamless connection from valley to valley.

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