Shillong, Aug 1: Cycling Shillong, a cycling club in Meghalaya on Tuesday announced that its second edition ‘Enduro 50 km race’ for mountain bikes (MTB) will be organized on Independence Day in which winners will get a prize money worth over Rs 2 lakh.
The competition also known as Green Pedal Shillong Challenge (GPSC) was also announced by Cycling Shillong president, Abhishek Bhagotia.
According to Bhagotia, GPSC is a cycling endurance race which will showcase not just scenic beauty and greenery of the state, but also a challenge to many cycling enthusiasts in the country.
The race will be flagged off from Madan Iewrynghep ground with its end point at Lad Smit.
“This year’s edition will be a high intensity, uphill, endure MTB race of 50 kms with a maximum elevation gain of about 1128 feet from the starting point till the end point,” Bhagotia said.
He said that the race would encounter steep climb of about 9 km till Air Force station, fast downhill sections till Umtyngngar bridge, and interspersed with offroad-like conditions from Laitlyngkot till Laitdiengsai village.
The Club’s event partner, Catapult Design Solutions (CDS), has been instrumental in aiding the club in planning and organizing the race since the beginning.
CDS team leader, Vijay Byrsat said that over 100 participants were expected to take part this year as the prize money has also gone up considerably for both categories men and women participants, and the total prize to be won is Rs 2 lakh.
The event is supported by the state Sports and Youth Affairs department and the Election department apart from other the other sponsors in cash and kind. In its first edition, the GPSC attracted over 80 cycling enthusiasts from the North Eastern states making it one of the best enduro cycling competition in the state.
Cycling Shillong secretary, Iankupar Diengdoh said the event aimed at creating awareness among young people like him to take up cycling as a hobby and a means of transport.
Diengdoh said that he and his friends regularly went to college as well as to work by using MTB, as it has tremendous effect on his personal health apart from getting to places on time.
Considering that cycling can be an option for career, he said the young generation are gifted and could make good of the career options cycling has in the very near future.
Cycling Shillong to host 2nd edition MTB race on Independence Day
