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Sunday, 5th of October 2025
VNR Alert: Ultra Gobi 400km Officially Kicks Off
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At 21:30 Beijing time, the Ultra Gobi 400km race officially began. Fifty-five runners from around the world set off one by one into the night, embarking on an extraordinary adventure across the vast Gobi Desert.
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Flash quotes on the evening of the start
Jovica Spajic from Serbia, start number 240
‘To perform well, make my country and myself proud, and represent the values I stand for – that’s why I came to ULTRA GOBI. It’s also about being a true ambassador for the sport and showing young people in Serbia that you can achieve more in life than seems possible.’
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Carla Andrè from Portugal, start number 235
‘My goal is to complete as many desert runs in as many countries as possible, and ULTRA GOBI is right at the top of my list. I cope well with the heat, less so with the cold. But if I succeed, I will be the first woman in Portugal to have run 400 km in one go.’
Sona Kopcokova from Slovakia, bib number 246
‘I have adopted three children who have changed my life. ULTRA GOBI is another dream I want to realise. Sport has become a balance for me, I am really looking forward to this race and would love to be able to show my children this stunning landscape one day.’
Jonathan Shield from Great Britain, bib number 239
‘I was injured and am certainly not in top form – but I am prepared to put up with a lot for the 400 kilometres of ULTRA GOBI. Ultimately, it’s about testing and pushing your own limits, and this race is perfect for that. My mental strength and stubbornness will certainly stand me in good stead.’
Damien Kühn from South Africa, bib number 237
‘Taking part in the ULTRA GOBI means the world to me, but it also makes my family, friends and everyone around me happy. The atmosphere among us athletes in the days leading up to the start is incredible.’
Julian Vermeer from South Africa, bib number 241
‘From the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc to ULTRA GOBI – that wasn’t actually the plan. A friend convinced me to register and run with her. Funny story: she was rejected due to a lack of previous achievements, but I got a starting place. Here I am, ready to give it my best. But I see ULTRA GOBI 400 less as a race and more as a journey.’
Cody Poskin from USA, bib number 236
‘This is my first race in Asia, my first ultra without the support of my family, and I’m curious to see how I’ll do at ULTRA GOBI. At 23, I’m quite young and the youngest participant here, but I don’t see this as a disadvantage, but rather an advantage – perhaps youthful naivety is my trump card.’
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On the same day, the Ultra Gobi A+ 121km Solo race also got underway. Earlier at 14:00, the Ultra Gobi A+ 121km Solo race kicked off. This year, the A+ starting line welcomed a particularly special participant — Bryon Powell, champion of the 2024 Ultra Gobi 400km. After finishing his A+ race, Bryon will join the Ultra Gobi livestream to share his insights and experiences from the course.
The A+ race features a self-navigation, self-supported, non-stop format with a 22-hour cut-off time, making it a true test of each athlete’s pacing, endurance, and strategy. We wish all participants the best of luck as they take on this demanding challenge.
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Ultra Gobi 121km A Team — Day 3 Update
Meanwhile, the Ultra Gobi 121km A Team race entered its third day. The weather was partly cloudy, with temperatures ranging between 6°C and 22°C, and light winds (below level 3), offering ideal conditions for strong performances on the course.
Today’s stage covers a distance of 33.69 km, featuring a diverse mix of terrain including asphalt roads, gravel tracks, Yardang formations, canyons, and stretches of black Gobi. With multiple climbs, descents, and obstacles, it is the longest and one of the most challenging stages of the three-day race — a true test of endurance and resilience.
The top three teams of the day were:
- School of management Fudan university
- Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business
- School of Management, Xiamen University
Text Credits: James Huang/ Egon Theiner / Ultra Gobi Organizing Committee
Photo Credits: Ultra Gobi
Video Credits: ICARUS Sports
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TV broadcasters: ICARUS Sports’ output from the ULTRA GOBI 2025 is now uploaded on ICARUS Sports SERVER:
VNR SHOTLIST:
121km_Raw_Material.mp4 – Direct download* HERE.
00:00-00:06 Aerial shot Ancient temple
00:06-00:19 Aerial shot start of 121k race
00:19-00:28 Crowd cheers
00:28-00:36 Competitors at the starting line
00:36-00:45 Aerial shot of the teams ready for the start
00:45-00:54 Aerial shot Race start
00:54-01:03 Race start
01:03-01:10 Aerial shot Race start
01:10-01:18 Aerial shot of the race
01:18-01:36 Teams racing
01:36-01:42 Aerial shot check point 1
01:42-01:59 Check point 1
01:59-02:06 Finish Line
02:06-02:15 Camp
02:15-02:37 Aerial shot Gobi Desert
VNR SHOTLIST:
400km_Raw_Material.mp4 – Direct download* HERE.
00:00-00:12 Aerial shot start line 400k race
00:12-00:20 Aerial shot start line 400k
00:20-00:26 Aerial shot 1st competitor
00:26-00:32 Crowd cheers
00:32-00:47 Women’s start
00:47-01:00 Men’s start
INTERVIEWS:
IV_121km_NANCY_LIANG_Partisipant_CUHK_Business_School_English – Direct download* HERE.
IV_121km_WU_JINGLE_Perking_University_Team_Leader_English – Direct download* HERE.
Iv_Carla_Andre_Portugal_400km_Race_English – Direct download* HERE.
Iv_Cody_Poskin_USA_400km_Race_English.mp4 – Direct download* HERE.
Iv_Jovica_Spajic_Serbia_400km_Race_English.mp4 – Direct download* HERE.
Iv_Wang_Zhiwei_China_400km_Race_Chinese.mp4 – Direct download* HERE.
*direct download links expire in 30 days
Please find here the link in order to register and use ICARUS Sports server:
http://portal.icarus-sports.com/
As long as you register, you will get access to our folder with the Events 2025.
Subfolder: ULTRA GOBI 2025
Please note that the direct download links might not work with all browsers such as Google Chrome. You may use an alternative browser such as Mozilla Firefox, alternatively visit the ICARUS Sports server directly to access our content.
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Notes to Editors | About ICARUS Sports
ICARUS Sports stands out as a leading Sports Media company, with a dynamic portfolio that spans over 200 international events annually and delivers more than 2,800 hours of filmed content. The company specializes in producing original in-house TV shows, including The Sports Rundown, The Outdoor Sports Show, Gearing Up, Inside Sailing &Sailing to the Games – LA Edition and more than 100 documentaries per year. With a robust media distribution network reaching over 160 countries, ICARUS Sports collaborates with some of the most prominent global broadcasters. Its end-to-end media services encompass high-quality video production, strategic media distribution, and impactful brand promotion.
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