From Ironman to ultra-cycling, Mahbubur keeps pushing the limits
Mahbubur Rahman spent years testing his limits through triathlon and Ironman events. Then, in June this year, the Bangladeshi ultra-endurance athlete took on a 1,537km ultra-cycling challenge across 21 mountains in seven days.
Starting from Munich, the Monaco Bavaria Ultra Cycling event took him through Austria and the Italian Dolomites before returning to Germany, with 32,000 metres of total elevation gain.
“This year I finished a 1,537km ultra-cycling event starting from Munich, going through Austria and the Italian Dolomites and back to Germany, with 32,000m of total elevation gain across 21 mountains within seven days. Only 25 out of 91 starters finished all the challenges, earning a spot in the Hall of Fame,” Mahbubur told The Daily Star.
Mahbubur was one of those 25 participants.
The challenge pushed him well beyond the limits of physical endurance.
“I slept in that 100-gram bivy bag for three nights. Across the seven nights, I averaged only two to three hours of sleep per night. During those seven days, I crossed 21 mountains. It was a massive life challenge.
I slept in that 100-gram bivy bag for three nights. Across the seven nights, I averaged only two to three hours of sleep per night. During those seven days, I crossed 21 mountains. It was a massive life challenge.
“While others stayed in tents or hotels, I stayed completely outdoors in a bivy bag. It was a totally new learning experience and allowed me to connect with many people.”
According to Mahbubur, 91 participants started the event, while around 45-47 were recognised as finishers. The course featured 100 control points, with participants completing different numbers of points depending on their progress. Only 25 completed all 100 points and conquered all 21 mountains.
The ultra-cycling achievement is the latest chapter in a decade-long endurance-sport journey. Mahbubur began his journey in 2014-15 and took up Ironman competitions in 2017. He has since completed eight Ironman events--four full-distance and four 70.3 races, alongside the Bangla Channel swim and several international marathons.
The ultra-cycling achievement is the latest chapter in a decade-long endurance-sport journey. Mahbubur began his journey in 2014-15 and took up Ironman competitions in 2017. He has since completed eight Ironman events--four full-distance and four 70.3 races, alongside the Bangla Channel swim and several international marathons.
“In 2018 I swam the 16 km Bangla Channel from Teknaf to Saint Martin, and in the same year lined up for my first Ironman 70.3 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In 2019 I finished Ironman 70.3 Bintan in Indonesia and then Ironman Malaysia over the full distance, which earned me the Ironman title,” he noted.
A full-distance Ironman consists of a 3.8km swim, a 180km bike ride and a 42.2km run, while an Ironman 70.3 comprises a 1.9km swim, 90km cycling and a 21.1km run.
Mahbubur moved to Germany in 2022 and spent the following year focusing on his job and settling into his new environment. He trained locally with clubs to maintain his fitness without competing.
He returned to competition in 2024, taking part in the Berlin Marathon twice, the South Asian Triathlon Championship in Nepal, a 1,600km ultra-cycling challenge and Ironman Tallinn in Estonia.
At Ironman 70.3 in Estonia, Mahbubur finished in 10 hours and six minutes, improving on his previous best of 11 hours and 46 minutes, recorded in Switzerland earlier that year.
His appetite for bigger challenges, however, remains.
“I constantly enjoy taking on new personal challenges and testing human limits. Achieving something new sends a positive signal to the brain that a barrier has been crossed and that I am capable of doing more.
“I started by running 10km and 15km, then progressed to a half marathon, a full marathon and swimming the Bangla Channel. After finishing the Bangla Channel, I realised I could do more and began connecting these physical achievements to overcoming personal ups and downs, life struggles and career challenges,” he said.
The journey has not been without setbacks. During Ironman Hamburg in 2024, Mahbubur was unable to finish after completing the swimming and cycling legs.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The journey has not been without setbacks. During Ironman Hamburg in 2024, Mahbubur was unable to finish after completing the swimming and cycling legs.
“After completing the swim and cycling legs, I had to stop 25-26km into the run due to hypothermia and nutrition issues. Out of five total attempts, I have four finisher medals.
“Races involve significant unpredictable factors such as sudden weather shifts or equipment failures.”
His next challenge is already in his sights.
“Next year, I plan to attempt a triple-distance challenge: the Transcontinental Race across eight countries, which will begin in Norway.”
It’s one of the world's most brutal ultra-distance, self-supported bicycle races -- around 4,500-5,000km with 45,000 metres of elevation in 14 days.
Balancing such challenges with a full-time job and family life is another test.
“I work as a web developer in Germany, working 40 hours a week from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Balancing this with my family--my wife and our two-year-old twin boys--is very challenging.
“I train in the evenings after work and spend eight to nine hours cycling on Saturdays, leaving Sundays entirely dedicated to my family. My family is immensely supportive, and my workplace is morally encouraging and celebrates my sporting milestones.”
For Mahbubur, the biggest motivation is not a medal or record, but the legacy he hopes to leave for his children.
For Mahbubur, the biggest motivation is not a medal or record, but the legacy he hopes to leave for his children.
“One major goal is to create a legacy for my young children. I want to build an inspiring story for them, showing that if a person tries, they can go far beyond their limits.
“Even after failure, you need to get back up and try again--I want people to adopt this mindset. That is the main motto.”
His latest ultra-cycling experience reinforced that belief.
“I never imagined I would spend three out of seven nights entirely outdoors, cycling through the night. I faced many hurdles--my bike broke down, I couldn't get proper nutrition on time, and I had to spend one freezing night on top of a mountain with only a 100-gram bivy bag.”
“I have been involved in triathlon for over 10 years as an amateur athlete. We are trying to popularise triathlon in Bangladesh alongside cricket and football,” he concluded.
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