Cycling enthusiasts, old and young, pedalled their hearts out as part of the MVS cycling carnival.
The dust has settled at the dirt track and calm has returned to the Kari Motor Speedway as the 3rd edition of the MVS cycling carnival concluded after a weekend of energetic performances by enthusiastic riders.
For an eager cyclist like me from Coimbatore, this cycling weekend is a calendar event. The city known for its love of motor sports now also has a world-class event for the cyclists.
By Friday afternoon there was an air of excitement in the city with the riders arriving in Race Course to collect their race kits. Many heads turned as cars with bicycles loaded on them showed up in the city. It was a congregation of cyclists from not only the home state but also from the neighbouring states of Kerala and Karnataka.
The organisers this year had introduced a new race category -Enduro - just for the MTB riders who enjoy a challenge on rugged terrain. A new dirt track was laid among coconut and mango trees in a farm in Chettipalayam. On Saturday, over 30 riders gave it their best shot on this tricky and technical circuit in three stages. J K Aswin from Coimbatore finished in second position. Aswin is a young and upcoming talent in the sport of cycling who will hopefully put Coimbatore on the international cycling map. Chinkheinganba Nameirakpam, a shy 19 year old from Imphal also rode an impressive race at the MTB circuit. He was the youngest Indian to ever summit Mt. Everest back in 2013 and is now a rising talent in the MTB racing events.
On Sunday, the much awaited criterium races took place at the Kari Motor Speedway, near Chettipalayam. Appropriate categories for men, women and children were announced and the races were held from dawn to well past mid-day. Entire families took part in different race categories. Loud cheering from family, friends and team mates resounded on the side lines throughout the morning.
The under-18 boys category was the first race of the day. The enthusiasm and energy with which these boys rode set the stage for the rest of the riders. The women’s race with the amateurs, masters and the lone veteran, Mrs. Sujani Balu riding, was a colourful and captivating one. The next two kids races were the most anticipated ones with the most number of participation. The four to eight age group, had the most adorable line-up on the race track. There were tiny little kids, who still had their training wheels on their bicycles, riding on a professional race track. The briefing from the Race Director to these kids was to just follow the aunty’s lead in the front and to ride safe.
The nine to 13 age group was an exuberant bunch raring to compete with their friends and put up a good show. Then followed the various men’s category of races. The top honour in the veteran men’s category went to Mr. Moidu Kottikollon of Coimbatore. Riders from Bangalore, Cochin and Trivandrum finished on the podium in both the Amateur and Master categories. Mugesh. B from Trichy scorched the track in the elite category and stood first by a large margin. The team from St.Mary’s Convent Matriculation School in Annur was hard to miss and they put up good performances under the guidance of their coaches. I wish more educational institutions in the region encouraged young riders to take up cycling and compete. Another notable aspect at the cycling carnival was the SCOTTS Future Stars Program.
This international bicycle brand offers equipment support to the winners of the under-18 category. Very often, young talented riders are limited by the lack of access to good bicycles and technical support. If this gap can be bridged, it will not be long before the Indian tricolour will fly high in the international stage.
The dust has settled at the dirt track and calm has returned to the Kari Motor Speedway as the 3rd edition of the MVS cycling carnival concluded after a weekend of energetic performances by enthusiastic riders.
For an eager cyclist like me from Coimbatore, this cycling weekend is a calendar event. The city known for its love of motor sports now also has a world-class event for the cyclists.
By Friday afternoon there was an air of excitement in the city with the riders arriving in Race Course to collect their race kits. Many heads turned as cars with bicycles loaded on them showed up in the city. It was a congregation of cyclists from not only the home state but also from the neighbouring states of Kerala and Karnataka.
The organisers this year had introduced a new race category -Enduro - just for the MTB riders who enjoy a challenge on rugged terrain. A new dirt track was laid among coconut and mango trees in a farm in Chettipalayam. On Saturday, over 30 riders gave it their best shot on this tricky and technical circuit in three stages. J K Aswin from Coimbatore finished in second position. Aswin is a young and upcoming talent in the sport of cycling who will hopefully put Coimbatore on the international cycling map. Chinkheinganba Nameirakpam, a shy 19 year old from Imphal also rode an impressive race at the MTB circuit. He was the youngest Indian to ever summit Mt. Everest back in 2013 and is now a rising talent in the MTB racing events.
On Sunday, the much awaited criterium races took place at the Kari Motor Speedway, near Chettipalayam. Appropriate categories for men, women and children were announced and the races were held from dawn to well past mid-day. Entire families took part in different race categories. Loud cheering from family, friends and team mates resounded on the side lines throughout the morning.
The under-18 boys category was the first race of the day. The enthusiasm and energy with which these boys rode set the stage for the rest of the riders. The women’s race with the amateurs, masters and the lone veteran, Mrs. Sujani Balu riding, was a colourful and captivating one. The next two kids races were the most anticipated ones with the most number of participation. The four to eight age group, had the most adorable line-up on the race track. There were tiny little kids, who still had their training wheels on their bicycles, riding on a professional race track. The briefing from the Race Director to these kids was to just follow the aunty’s lead in the front and to ride safe.
The nine to 13 age group was an exuberant bunch raring to compete with their friends and put up a good show. Then followed the various men’s category of races. The top honour in the veteran men’s category went to Mr. Moidu Kottikollon of Coimbatore. Riders from Bangalore, Cochin and Trivandrum finished on the podium in both the Amateur and Master categories. Mugesh. B from Trichy scorched the track in the elite category and stood first by a large margin. The team from St.Mary’s Convent Matriculation School in Annur was hard to miss and they put up good performances under the guidance of their coaches. I wish more educational institutions in the region encouraged young riders to take up cycling and compete. Another notable aspect at the cycling carnival was the SCOTTS Future Stars Program.
This international bicycle brand offers equipment support to the winners of the under-18 category. Very often, young talented riders are limited by the lack of access to good bicycles and technical support. If this gap can be bridged, it will not be long before the Indian tricolour will fly high in the international stage.