FAMOUS CYCLING RACES: INDIA
John F Kennedy once famously quoted, “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike” and he was right.
Exploring the world on a bike is truly one of the most amazing feeling in the world; but, cycling today has evolved dramatically — from road racing to mountain biking to ultra-cycling.
In India, the cycling community has made sure that there are a plethora of new events that are catering to the growing fraternity of cyclists.
In this article, we have pulled together some of the best ultra-cycle races you can find in India that hone your skills, test your determination and make your heart skip a beat.
But before that, don’t forget to get a Cycle Insurance!
- The Deccan Cliffhanger
An annual ultra-cycling race starts from Pune (the city of cycles) and ends on the shores of Goa (643K). The race has two categories — solo or relay. The route follows the Sahyadri range and finally passing through the dense forests that cover the cliffs of the escarpment, into the Konkan as it heads to the Arabian Sea.
2. The Great Himalayan Ultra
The Great Himalayan Ultra which is 600K long starts and ends in Leh, Ladakh, and loops around the beautiful region of Dras in the Kargil district of Jammu & Kashmir. This race is billed as the world’s highest ultra-cycle race clocking in at an elevation gain of 10347m. This being a high-altitude race, racers must report before 8–10 days to acclimatize to the conditions.
3. The Ultra Spice Race
The Ultra spice race has 2 distances of 1000K and 1750K with solo and relay team categories. The race starts and finishes at Bogmalo, Goa. The race route starts right on the beach and goes along the coast passing coconut tree-lined creeks before it turns inland. With scenic beauty all around, the route here passes through the forest and plantation covered mountains of the south exposing you to coffee, tea, and pepper plantations. The route returns along the coast to finish back on the beach.
4. Dunes Time Trial
A thrilling fast-paced high-intensity race with a 6–12–24 hr time trial with participants attempting to set the highest mileage possible in the allotted time. The race is held in loops, with the long one being 55km on the outskirts of Jodhpur and the shorter loop is 15.5km overlapping with the long loop.
These events are a great place to meet like-minded people, have fun with each race and make memories that will last a lifetime.
5. MTB Himalaya
Mountain Biking Himalaya is not an event but an experience that you will treasure all your life. With MTB Himalaya, you can enjoy the spectacular sunrises, lush greenery delicately balanced with human existence. If you are looking to test your human endurance, there is nothing better than the cycling events in India -Himalayas.
The stunning scenery of Shimla, Rohru, Narkanda, Chanshal Valley along with the strenuous cycling expedition make MTB Himalaya an enduring experience. This race is the perfect venue for those who love riding further or up into the Blue Mountains!!
