44 cyclists vie for honours on World Tourism Day

Tribune News Service

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Shimla, September 27

As many as 44 cyclists, including seven girls, participated in the one-day race organised by the Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association (HASPTA) around Mashobara and Kufri hills on World Tourism Day today.

The participants cycled 52 km on an off-road route on single tracks, jeep tracks, forest trails and loose gravel tracks. The route for the race was Mashobara — Seepur — Bekhalti — Sarog — Bekhalti — camp Daakbangla, near Kufri. The event was held in U-14, girls, U-19, open and masters categories.

“Normally, we organise the MTB Himalayas race at this time of year, but this year it was not possible due to Covid-19,” said HASPTA president Mohit Sood. “To celebrate 16 years of Himalayan mountain biking, we decided to organise one-day race to identify local talent and give them an international exposure,” he said.

During the pandemic, people had got conscious about fitness and cycling was an outdoor adventure sports, which could keep the youth away from drugs, Sood said. The government was planning to make cycling lanes, which would lay the foundation of a new eco transport system in the city, he said.

Results
Category Winners

1. Masters Manish Garover
2. Girls Divija Sood
3. U-14 boys Kunal Kumar
4. U-19 Sandeep Thapha
5. Open Ashish Sherpa