28 cyclists participate at Mechuka Mountain Terrain Bike race

Itanagar: Deemed to be India's toughest MTB cross country (XC) race, the second edition of Mountain Terrain Bike (MTB) Menchuka witnessed participation from five states and ten different districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

The one-day XC race covered all the elements of an ultimate challenge for mountain bikers. Located at an altitude of 6000 feet above mean sea level, the hilly terrain of the Menchuka valley makes it the perfect paradise for cyclists of MTB genre.

Menchuka Cycling Club president Tsering Lhamu, who is also the wife of Legislative Assembly Speaker Passang Dorjee Sona, flagged off the event on March 16 last.

As many as 28 participants registered for the race, but only 14 participants could finish the 42-km race on time.

In the men's elite category, Tajum Dere from Menchuka Cycling Club beat the second place Suto Linggi from Roing by a whisker. Vitthal Bhosale from Pune grabbed the third position.

Kiakia Lindum from Itanagar Cycling Club came victorious in the women's elite category. She was followed by Harshita Kaushik from Guwahati and the third position went to Yana Kej from Itanagar Cycling Club.

The most promising award was presented to Chong Naksang for the second consecutive time.

The event was organised by Menchuka Cycling Club and Arunachal Amateur Bicycling Association (AABA) with technical support from Itanagar Cycling Club and Spokehub Itanagar.

The event chairman Marter Riba who, is also the President of Arunachal Amateur Bicycling Association, expressed his gratitude to local MLA Pasang Dorjee Sona for sponsoring the event.

Riba assured to make it a national event level in the next edition.

The winners of both the categories won a cash prize of Rs 25,000 (1st), Rs 15,000 (runner-up) and Rs 10,000 (second runner-up) along with medals and certificates.

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