2nd edition of cyclothon in Mumbai sees better turnout than last year

Mumbaikars seem to have warmed up to the concept of competitive cycle rides. At least, that’s what the edition two of the Cycle Marathon (Cyclothon), which was held on Sunday, seems to suggest.

A substantially large number of cyclists from the city participated in the dual leg Mumbai Cyclothon Tour de Mumbai compared to last year.

It was also one of those rare occasions when city streets in the Western and Central suburbs, which were the routes for the rides on Sunday morning, were overwhelmed by cycles instead of the regular motor vehicle traffic.

About 9,500 cyclists from the city participated in four different types of rides — the 28-km amateur ride, the 15-km corporate and green rides, and the three-km kids ride.

First-time participant Malavika Rane, a Juhu resident, covered 28 km in one hour 45 minutes. She said, “It was fun. (The event was) well organised. Bikes available for rent were brand new. (The) sea link was fun. We did not get time cards. Also, several people only went round the sea link once as there were no instructions.”

Firoza Suresh, a passionate cyclist who had participated last year, said that she had the third best timing among the amateur riders, but she had to do the counting herself.

In the Mumbai leg (second leg) of the 108-km-long Elite International Men’s Race, 15 international teams, three of them national, competed. The race also witnessed the participation of the Indian cyclists’ team.

The race was won, though, by the cyclist from the team of professional, now retired, cyclist Lance Armstrong-Radio Shock. Cyclist Robbie Hunter stood first.

The substantial response to the event’s second edition has encouraged the organisers to consider a bigger  event next year.