Mtb nationals championship 2015, which was held in Pune, Golf Country Club. Picturesque location, excellent climate, great arrangement, lots of sponsors and everything was favorable to make this event a sensational event ever happened. Riders, cyclist, mountain bikers, national athletes all around the nation gathered at this gorgeous location surrounded by flourishing mountains. All of these temptations forced me to leave my office work and spend a whole day at the event venue.
During these two days, I spent lots of time meeting, talking, discussing, sharing with hell lots of people, few I knew, few I meet the first time, made many new friends, discussed lots cycling, mountain biking and everything related to cycling. And this was obvious as most of the people at the venue are from cycling fraternity.
Giant Starkeen cycles did a good job in executing so many arrangements and make the event look like a huge event, sharing lots of photographs, pictures, huge flex, online marketing and guess what, it did work, as all of these covered the dark truth and secrets which hurt every true cyclist out there.
You must be thinking, I am making baseless rumours to so-called cycling federation event. So I would point out few details:
- Day 1, like all other national sports event, there was an opening ceremony, so cool right. But what u got is riders were made to sit in the sun for hrs while officials enjoyed the canopy and juices. No shade was provided to athletes, and sadly the had to tolerate this behavior from so called cycling federation. Have a look yourself.
- Day 2, I reached venue to support few of my friends who were representing some states in that race. Glad there was a shade this time, but it was so small, that even 50 cyclists can't sit or relax inside it together, resulting many lying under trees so some unused medical tents, registrations counter, etc. And I thought it was a national sports event.
- After a race, riders have to get coupons from team official to have refreshments, and what they get is 1 tiny banana, 2 loaves of bread. What a nutritious breakfast it is right. No eggs, no glucose, no apples. Moreover on asking for extra banana, we were told, that only 1 is allowed from officials. Guess, CFI thinks having egg or more bananas is dangerous. Resulting many participants were carrying own diet. experienced riders.
- Now a national sports race, changing race timings, as they feel like, no prior information to riders. Caused one state missed the race, which was supposed to happen at 2.30, was preponed to 10.30. Even open category master race was preponed, without any msg or information to cyclists who practiced hard whole year.
- Now let's talk about the track, as they mention it was UCI class 3 race course. Just wondering from which angle they found this track as per international standards, just want to meet that guy. No technical challenges just plain track with little uphill section and minor flat downhill, where you can even ride a road bike. And guess what, on asking, we get silly explanations.
- There were two Refreshments zones, and volunteers they have no bloody idea what to do, standing 2km away from riders and showing tiny water bottles.
- First aid, only at the start point. As a result, lots of riders crashed, and they had to wait for a long time to get basic first aid. This shows how much federation is bothered about players. No wonder many good athletes, skip these events, without second thoughts.
- Taking the selfie, capturing photographs are too common, thanks to smartphones, but how can you justify this when race officials who had the sole responsibility of managing the race, were busy in updating their social media and taking selfies in while the race was in progress.
- Songs playing too loud near the start point, that even a dead man would wake up from his coffin. Guess Federation thinks "sheela ki jawani" will improve concentration and encourage riders more.
- No timing chips used in the race, not sure how accurate the timings were in time trial event. To make clear just for CFI, timing chips are not Lays or kurkure, these are computer circuits used to capture accurate timing to microseconds.
And the list is endless.
This is the first national event I attended, and I guess, this was my last too. In history I had attended lots of countless events, and they were much better. Setting up huge banners everywhere with sponsors name in it, don't make an event better. CFI needs to learn a lot from the way international races are organized and improve themselves, than showcasing their arrogance, ignorance and attitudes.
I am a cyclist, I love cycling, I spend time learning new skills, Improving myself, increasing my stamina and energy. Not to get wasted in these kinds of event. I would like to be in events, where I am challenged, where I am treated as a cyclist, not like any favour, I like to be in event where I meet athletes across the world, and where track is so tough to break my bone, so that I can rise up and ride hard next time, instead of jaywalking on race track. I would attend the event, where cycling and cyclist are respected.
Goa international mountain biking challenge stage 3 at Panjim came to a nail-biting finish in front of hundreds of spectators and riders of Goa. The crowd roared and cheered as Goan riders cross passed them in every lap. And final race ended with obvious and deserving winner Rohan Buddhi Tamag from Nepal, the way he finished every stage astonished everyone.
There were over 40 participants across the globe including Australia, Nepal, Zurich, India. Even though this was only the very first year for Cycling Goa to organize such an international race, but the event was up to mark and expectations of all riders. Even the track crafted for all the stages are of international standards and tough to make you realize the true sense of a cross country race. I consider it more of Enduro race as there were downhill portion, rock patches, blind curves, single tracks, few technical small jumps, gruelling uphill, large river stream. Race comprised of 3 stage from which first two days lap was 4.5km approx and last day was a 2.4km circuit. Obviously race was no childs play, to complete in provided time period, you need skill to control your bike, skills to conquer those humongous uphill, skills to maneuver easily in blind turns, skills to race fast in horrifying downhills. And its not only skill which got tested, you need to have stamina, energy, endurance, power and a huge positive spirit to compete the race in hot and humid climate of Goa.
A small video of day 2 raceGIMBC Day 2 stream crossing!
Goa International Mountain Biking Challenge Day-2 race started off with the riders going through a stream. #GIMBC
Posted by Lumos on Sunday, October 18, 2015
Pointing about race management, it was conducted in a very good manner with everything at the position, from the hotel to food, transport, race venue selection, route marking. Every participant enjoyed a lot and stay at Jungle Book resort which was our first 2day stay location, situated in the extensions on Dudhsagar waterfall river. It was one of most astonishing, marvelous, and extraordinary place we could ever have. Even the last day also when we got shifted to Panjim for stage 3 race and prize ceremony, the hotel provided was too good, situated near to Miramar beach. Organizers took care of participants and their satisfaction level. And this helped us to focus on the race and perform remarkably.
This was my first mountain biking challenge while I was struggling with my bike and such a technically challenging and demanding track, there were participants who literally flew on their bike and finished 1 hour prior to me. First two days I was so stocked with the race struggle I was not able to finish in time. The third day I succeeded to clock a good time just 15min late from the first rider. Good enough for a seasoned rider. This race taught me so many skills and technicalities and virtue of mountain biking. Now that I am back, I am still dreaming about those woods where I rode to finish my circuit. And I have already made up my mind to compete next year, but with lots of more preparation, training and discipline.
Even though the festival ended, to me it felt like the new beginning of mountain biking era in a country like India. If you ask me, this is what India needs at this stage, we need more races like this to push riders to a whole new level and tackle top athletes around the world. Hope next year GIMBC will keep up its standards and make the race worth attending again.
Riders that just wouldn't Quit! The Finishers are ecstatic! #GIMBC
Posted by Lumos on Sunday, October 18, 2015
"If you don't ride in the rain and get dirty, then you don't ride".
Pune MTB Dirt Race - Edition 1, organized by Team Pune Racing, was not about just cycling, it was a phenomenon which has just started, a whole new level of competition ever experienced by riders.
As mentioned by few rides "Awesome trail, a very different one and it was fun riding".
And we guess this is what MTB Dirt Race is supposed to be, a tough, rugged, unexpected, muddy, rocky path to test a rider true cycling spirit, to test his stamina, endurance, his skill and maneuvering qualities as a mountain biker. Surrounded by scenic hills of Sus Gaon, this cross-country race gave riders chance to explore and understand different types of Mountain Biking genre.
The terrain was fabricated of single tracks, forest tracks, downhill portions, gutwrenching uphill. With the total distance of 3.5km. Also rains 2days prior to the event, made the track little more interesting. The format was very also very different, there were 3 categories based on riding skill Elite, Pro and Women's categories, and all categories had different laps. As the race progressed, riders rushed to get hold of that podium and results were unbelievable. Even the army brats gave a tough competition to experience downhill and MTB riders of Pune. Pune Racing an initiative by Raw Adventure Solutions have started with new series of cycling, running and all different kind of race activities. They are planning to have mountain biking races, road races, trail marathons and the list is uncountable. These races will help Pune Cyclists learn more about cycling, different kinds of races which happens in cycling sports and will also encourage cyclists to understand more and love cycling sports.
Disclosed here few pictures from the race.
