Fazilka peddlers win 600-km cycling challenge

Members of Azad Hind Peddler Club, Fazilka, won the ‘Super Randonneurs’ series organised by Audax India in Abohar on Wednesday.

The founders, Shashikant Gupta (55), retired Naib Tehsildar Ram Kishan Kamboj (62), Simaljeet Singh (43) and Arpit Setia (38), were part of the team.

Simarjit Singh, general secretary of the club, said their entire group had vowed to achieve the title, which had now been accomplished. He said no other group or cyclist from Fazilka had achieved this feat before. This achievement was a testament to the club, he added.

To earn the title in cycling, a rider must complete four brevets (200 km, 300 km, 400 km, and 600 km) within a calendar year. Audax India allows 13.5 hours for 200 km, 20 hours for 300 km, 27 hours for 400 km, and 40 hours for 600 km. Each cyclist successfully completed these four rides within the stipulated time.

Shashikant Gupta said the final ride of the SR series, a 600 km ride, was titled as the ‘Punjab-Haryana Friendship Ride’, which started from Abohar and passed through the bypasses of Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar and Rohtak before returning via the same route.

Ram Kishan Kamboj said the SR series was very challenging, but all riders faced these challenges with courage and determination. Arpit Setia said the 600 km ride was organised by Hisar Randonneurs, and the coordinators were Inder Sharma Abohar and Naveen Deora Malout.

On completing the ride, the other club members Rahul Gumber, Ashwani Gagneja, Lakshay Gupta, Praveen Garg and family members warmly welcomed the riders with garlands.