INDIA. Mumbai: A total of 176 cyclists from Thane and Mumbai region joined HindAyan’s Thane-Mumbai expedition, a multi-state cycling race cum expedition, via Bandra Worli Sea Link in North West Mumbai, on Saturday.
HindAyan India’s first long-distance cycling race cum expedition, which started on February 5 from the National War Memorial, Delhi, travelled through Agra, Jaipur, Bhilwara, Udaipur, Gandhinagar, Surat, and Thane. The next destination will be Pune.
The cycling team, which comprises Indian Army and Navy cyclists, has cycled from Delhi to Agra, Jaipur, Bhilwara, Udaipur, Gandhinagar, Surat, Thane, and Mumbai
On Saturday, the 8th leg of the expedition started from Thane and ended at the NCPA, Nariman Point in South Mumbai. In a rare event, cyclists received permission from authorities to ride on the Bandra Worli Sea Link.
Thane Municipal Commissionerate’s Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Sports) Minal Palande flagged off the expedition from Thane Municipal Corporation headquarters.
As part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, cyclists from the Armed forces visited a local school- Saraswati Vidyalaya High School and Junior College in Thane, where they were welcomed by the principal, staff and students. Later, they communicated with the youngsters, discussed their army experiences with them, and taught the youth how to enlist in the military.
Since India currently lacks a long-distance cycling competition, members of the Olympic Team, National Cycling Team, State Police Adventure Cells, and Armed Forces Adventure Cells must go to the United States, United Kingdom, and France to compete.
Thus, we have organised the “HindAyan,” an annual multi-stage cycling race under “Atmanirbhar Bharat,” said Vishnudas Chapke. He is the organiser who is the first Indian to circumnavigate the globe overland travelling through 35 countries on five continents. This is done in order to promote the culture of cycling and give an opportunity to our cycling teams the to practise outdoors.
“The Uttar Pradesh State Government granted “HindAyan” special permission to cycle from Delhi to Agra on the Yamuna Expressway, which is otherwise off-limits to vehicles smaller than a four-wheeled vehicle. The IAF fighter plane previously made an exemption and landed on the Yamuna Expressway. It was an endeavour, and the group’s average top speed was 53 kmph,” organiser Vishnudas Chapke added.
Only the countryside is home to the race. The express and national highways have been given “Approval in Principle” by the NHAI for the race’s organisation. Roads will be set aside for the event with the assistance of the District Administration and the Local Superintendent of Police. It will be referred to as an expedition in metropolitan areas rather than a race.
On Sunday, Hindayan Team will leave for Pune, where the long-distance race-cut expedition will culminate.
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