The fourth Hercules mountain biking gets under way from Saturday in Shimla. Bikers will have to ride through some of the toughest terrain in the country for nine days, the organisers said.
The event is taking place barely days after the state saw the worst monsoon triggering landslides, uprooting trees and causing widespread destruction of roads, bridges leaving almost 50 people dead.
“If the original route is washed away we will divert the bikers to other routes during the event. In fact we have three alternative routes during the event this year due to the damaged roads,” said Mohit Sood, president of the Himalayan Adventure Sports & Tourism Promotion Association (HASTPA).
“A record 85 bikers are taking part this time including 29 foreigners from the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, South Africa and Dubai among others. There are eleven women, of which nine are foreigners,” Sood said here Thursday.
“Considered the 6th toughest bike rally in the world, it starts from Shimla and ends in Manali. Crossing 180 villages.The highest point on the way will be the 3,300 metre high Jalori pass, while the lowest will be Rampur Bushahr at 900 metres,” Sood said.
“The Chennai-based TI Cycles India is sponsoring the rally for the fourth consecutive year and will spend approximately Rs 40 lakh on the event,” said Rahul Gupta, GM Operations TY Cycles India, makers of Hercules and BSA cycles.
The co-sponsors are the Himachal Tourism, the Indian Ministry of Tourism, HASTPA and the Power Horse.
The rally has been divided into four categories. Winner of the solo event will receive a prize of Rs 1 lakh.
The organisers claim that this is the first bike rally of its kind in the country.
