'It's Nothing, You Just Ride 650 Miles': 70-Year-Old Wyoming Man Wins Grueling Mongol Derby

Bob Long, a retired chief technology officer for a healthcare tech company, became the oldest man to win the grueling 1,000 km Mongol Derby on August 14, with the moment of his victory broadcast live on Facebook.

“It’s nothing, you just ride 650 miles on a death march,” Long joked at the finish line. “There’s nothing to it.”

In an interview with The New York Times, Long, who lives in Idaho but grew up in Wyoming, said he spent months preparing for the race, and trained with previous winners. Long said the flat, open terrain of Wyoming was similar to that of the Mongolian steppes.

Over 40 riders participated in the derby this year, each paying approximately $14,000 to enter the competition. Credit: The Adventurists via Storyful