From novice to champion, Anav aspires to compete in Tour de France

Anav Puri, a rising star in road cycling, rides an impressive 100-120 kilometres every day. He has clinched multiple gold medals, including in the Punjab State Open Games under-18 category, the Punjab School Games and was a key contender at the national level in Ranchi this January. Currently ranked among the top 10 road cyclists in India, Anav is also a registered player under the Khelo India programme, having recently represented Punjab at Mahabalipuram.

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Reflecting on his journey, Anav credits the pandemic for sparking his interest in cycling. “Like many others, I bought a bicycle during the Covid period to stay active and combat boredom. Initially, it was just a casual hobby, but as I began riding in groups, I started enjoying it. I didn’t know much about competitive road cycling until my friends introduced me to it. I then bought an advanced bicycle and participated in my first competition in Kurukshetra. Despite being a beginner, I secured the ninth position, which gave me the encouragement to keep going,” Anav recalls.

Determined to improve, Anav attended the selection trials at Punjabi University, Patiala, while still in Class X at Cambridge International School. A coach there urged him to continue his training and his performance steadily improved. “The following year, I competed in the Punjab State Games in Amritsar and that’s when things really took off,” he says.

Now, Anav’s training routine is rigorous. “I wake up at 4 am every day to prepare my own oatmeal with dates, honey and dry fruits for the necessary carbs and proteins. I pack snacks like bananas and dates, fill up my water bottles with electrolytes and head out by 5:30 am. I ride non-stop for 100-120 kilometres, taking a brief 5-minute break if needed. My ride lasts 3 to 3.5 hours daily. Afterward, I eat a hearty meal and rest,” he shares.

His diet is equally disciplined: “I consume 6-7 eggs, rajmah-rice, veggies, fruit bowls and milkshakes to stay fueled.”

Anav is also training under a Haryana-based personal coach who remotely monitors his sessions using advanced tech. “My coach tracks my progress through a Wahoo Elemnt system, which collects data on my route, distance, heart rate, tire revolutions and breaks. I also completed a two-month high-altitude training session in Ladakh under his guidance,” he adds.

Anav competes in two categories: individual time trial (TT) and mass start (group) races. “I don’t participate in velodrome cycling; I’m focused on road cycling. In TT, cyclists start 1 minute apart and race a 40 km lap. The top two are selected for national representation. In mass start, 80-100 cyclists compete together, covering several laps, with the top four being chosen,” he explains.

Now a BA student at Guru Nanak Dev University, Anav is gearing up for tougher challenges. “I’ve moved up to the under-23 category, where the competition is fiercer. But I’m preparing for it. The next round of competitions starts in October and I’m focused on building endurance in the meantime,” he says, revealing that his long-term goals include competing in the Asian Cycling Championship and ultimately, the prestigious 21-day Tour de France.