Top Indian road cyclists to take part in Mumbai cyclothon

The national road cyclists, along with thousands of amateurs, are to be seen in action at the Saksham Cyclothon which is to be held on the city's roads on February 25.
"A total of 180 top men and women cyclists of the country, including the national team members, will take part in the 58-km race for elite men and 38-km race for elite women. A total prize money of Rs 6 lakh each will be on offer," Cycling Federation of India secretary-general Onkar Singh said at a media conference here today.
The cyclothon is an initiative of the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas along with Oil and Gas Public Sector Units to make the citizens aware of the importance of conservation and effective utilisation of petroleum products.

Singh said that Rs 1 lakh was the first prize for men and Rs 75,000 for women and a total of 20-22 national road cycling campers would take part in the races for elite men and women cyclists after the conclusion of the Asian Road Championship in Myanmar scheduled from February 8-12.
Singh also recalled how CFI had tied up with PCRA to conduct the Asian Track Cycling championship in 2016.
"I hope this event surpasses the other events," he said.

The cyclists would commence their race in the morning hours from the P J Hindu Gymkhana and Wilson Gymkhana grounds on Netaji Subhash Chandra Road.

"It will be one of the biggest cycling events seen in Mumbai and I hope it will create awareness," he said.
R K Ahuja, director, project secretariat, PCRA, said the country needs to cut down vehicular emission by 30-35 per cent over the next few years.
"We need to look at ways to do this," he elaborated on the need for the event in which around 5,000 cyclists, across all seven categories that includes five for amateurs, are expected to take part.
Age criteria for participation is 12 and above for the Green Ride and 15 and above for the other amateurs.