30 Riders Mangificiently Complete Mangaluru’s First WERC Coastal Express 200km Brevet After Lockdown
Mangaluru: With easing out of COVID-19 restrictions, team WE R Cycling kick-started the last 200km BRM of this season with a mix of 31 riders from various towns including Kasaragod, Kochin, Bengaluru and other places, including a foreign national affiliated to Bengaluru Randonneure, registering for the event on October 18.
The event was flagged off by Ms Karnataka Sports Model 2019, Ms Royala Fernandes, who was amazed by all the brave cyclists attempting to complete 200km in 13.5 hrs. Sharing her experience before the flag-off, she tipped off the cyclists about how these endurance events not only test a sports person physically but emotionally as well and ways and means to overcome this.
Acknowledging the importance of following safe practices, the rider kit distributed to the participants of the BRM included a safety mask and wet wipes apart from other essentials and the riders were flagged in smaller groups of 5 each.
The route that runs parallel to the Arabian sea all along the west coast hits major coastal towns of Mangaluru, Udupi and Kundapur. The entire stretch is a beautifully paved four-lane highway, with lots of eateries and stopover points.
This event saw riders from far off places, cities, states and even different countries. While the group from Kasaragod were an enthusiastic and lively bunch of riders, the quiet yet focussed rider Hannes Bahrs from Germany showed us how to handle an endurance event efficiently. For the fitness guru and marathoner Chayan Bhalla it was like a walk in the park, Gautham Baliga showed that Bengaluru is never behind anyone in skillset and spirits. For riders from Mangaluru be it Joseph, Naveen, Mubeen, Brijesh, Dr. Ramraj, Dr. Srinivas, it was just another morning ride. For many first-timers like Dr Guruprasad, Muqthar, Anees, Shemjaz, Richie, Mahesh, Anzar, and Hassan, it was a welcome ride to an ever-challenging world of endurance rides. All those riders, who started the ride, finished 200km well within the time. Team WERC wishes all the riders on their outstanding accomplishment. You all are now a RANDONNEURE and welcome to the world of RANDONNEURING.
BREVETS DE RANDONNEUR MONDIAUX (BRMs) are rides of fixed distances that are to be completed within specified time limits and successfully passed through pre-determined time controls. The recognition is equal regardless of the finishing order! Each rider, who finishes the event within the cut-off time is awarded a certificate and a medal directly from ACP. Moreover, the rider will get a step closer to become a Super Randonneure and an opportunity to take part in one of the oldest and most coveted cycling events in the world, the Paris Brest Paris event, held in France once every four years.
BRMs worldwide are approved by Audax Club Parisien (ACP) and governed by their Rules and Regulations. WE R Cycling (WERC) in association with Audax India Randonneurs (AIR) which is the sole authority for conducting and overseeing all BRMs and Audax events in India, is bringing these events to this coastal city, Mangaluru.
Nine first-timers from Mangalore belonging to Team WE R CYCLING completed the 200 km brevet, magnificently, despite the intense afternoon heat, and strong headwinds along NH 66.
The proud first-time Randonneurs from WE R CYCLING are Muhiyuddeen Anees, Shemjaz Arakkal, Gautham Baliga, Chayan Bhalla, Guruprasad Bhat, Richie Lewis, Hassan M P, Mohammed Shafi Muqthar, and Mahesh Nayak.
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