The Ultimate Himalayan Mountain Terrain Biking Challenge qualifying round was flagged off from Nainital on Thursday. This mountain biking competition is being organised jointly by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB), Asian Development Bank and the Cycling Federation of India. A total of 87 cyclists were chosen in the qualifying round for the main competition. These include 13 international male cyclists, nine international women cyclists, 62 India males and three Indian women cyclists.
The cyclists were flagged off at the GB Pant Park in Nainital on Thursday morning. The cyclists passed through Barapatthar, Sadiyatal, Rusi bypass, Waldia Khan, Tallital and Mall Road, covering a distance of 48 kilometres to enter the main round of the competition. Despite cloudy weather and light rainfall, the cyclists participated in the qualifying round with enthusiasm and energy. The Tourism department and police had coordinated their efforts to prevent any disorder on the route of the cyclists.
Earlier, while inaugurating the mountain biking challenge at Mallital, the Tourism additional secretary C Ravishankar appreciated the enthusiastic participants who had arrived here from across the nation and abroad. Stating that courage and adventure lend pace and liveliness to life, he said that the geographical conditions and natural beauty of Uttarakhand are naturally linked to adventure and excitement. Such events will prove to be a milestone for establishing a future for adventure tourism in the state.
He informed that the first halt of the mountain bike rally will be in Almora after which it will pass through Kausani, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Chinyalisaud and Musoorie to conclude in Dehradun on April 26. The main round of the competition will start from Friday. Prizes will be awarded to winners in different categories on all days. The cyclists will cover a distance of 564 kilometres through eight districts of the state. Various officials of the Tourism department and local residents were also among those present on the occasion.
