The Ultimate Uttarakhand Himalayan MTB Challenge will be organised in the State from May 6 to 14 by the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board under the ADB assisted IDIPT in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India.
Additional secretary, Tourism, Ashish Joshi said the competition will be flagged off on May 6 from Nainital and formally inaugurated from there on May 7. On the first day, the cyclists will cover a distance of 85 km passing through Bhawali, Khutni, Padampuri, Kwarab and other places before reahing Almora.
On the second day, the cyclists will cover a distance of 125 km passing through Kosi, Kausani, Garud and Baijnath to reach Gwaldam. On May 9, the participants will depart from Gwaldam and pass through Tharali, Narayanbagad, Karnprayag, Pokhri, Kanakchauri and Saterakhal to reach Rudraprayag covering a distance of 142 km. The fourth day will see them covering a distance of 108 km passing through Tilwada, Bainoli, Mayali, Chinbatiya, Ghansali, Peepaldali, Tipri and Tehri Dam before reaching New Tehri.
On May 11, the cyclists will rest in New Tehri while on the next day they will cover a distance of 79 km passing through Chamba, Kaman and Kaudisar to reach Chinyalisaud. On the last day of the race, the cyclists will leave from Chinyalisaud and pass through Motiyana, Roton ki Beli, Suakholi and Bantaghat to reach Mussoorie covering a distance of 86 km. The race will conclude at Mussoorie with the prize distribution slated to be held in Dehradun on the next day. The cyclists will cover a total distance of 625 km in the MTB challenge.
According to Joshi, the competition will held in both the individual and team categories. Those interested can register at www.cyclingfederationofindia.org while a website www.mtbuttarakhand.co.in has also been launched to publicise this event. A maximum of 90 cyclists will be able to compete in the MTB challenge. Registration for the event is free while Uttarakhand Tourism will facilitate boarding the lodging for the competitors. Stating that cyclists from across the nation are expected to participate in the event, Joshi said that the competition will boost promotion of tourism in Uttarakhand.