With over 7,000 participants at the BSA Hercules India Cyclothon and Being Human Tour De Mumbai 2010, the event boasted of six different categories and each saw a decent flow of entries. Bollywood actors Salman Khan and his brother, Sohail, were at the event on February 21, 2010. So were Congress MP Priya Dutt and local MLA Baba Siddiqui. The professional cyclists mingled with the amateur enthusiasts comprising children, students, executives, corporates, housewives and disabled.

Shri Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (MP), President Cycling Federation of India; Mr Eddy Merckx, a five time Tour De France winner and Mr Shiv Inder Singh, Mg Director Of Firefox Bike at the venue

Salman participated in the 24-km ride with cycling legend Eddy Merck, Siddiqui was seen cycling along with them. Salman and Siddiqui had ordered bicycles with special gears from Australia for the occasion. Sohail accompanied his son, who took part in the 2-km Kids’ Ride. Ms Dutt was seen cycling down Carter Road.

The two events were held under the aegis of International Cycling Union (UCI), Cycling Federation of India (CFI), Maharashtra Cycling Association (MCA) and promoted by Sports 18, Network 18 and ID sports.

The 12 km Nokia Green Ride, with the maximum participation, took the participants riding on the Bandra Worli Sea Link. Amidst these were over 200 dabbawalas, showed up at Bandra’s Reclamation ground early on Sunday morning to participate in the Race. The members of the city’s Dabbawalla Association dressed in their every day attire of white cotton shirts, trousers, rubber slippers and white Gandhi topis perched on their heads, the band of dabbawallas strikingly stood out from the crowds.

Mr Arun Murugappa, BSA Motors and Lt Gen (Retd) Jagdish Chander, Chairman, Wheel Publications & Expositions Pvt Ltd at VIP Lounge

Most of the participants in the Nokia Green Ride 12-km and the Corporate Ride 24-km races were regular cyclists, out to show their enthusiasm and support for the first cycle race in the city. To support the event 350 Indian Navy personnel also took part in the Green Ride.

With over 600 kids participating at the Tata Kids Ride (2km) Cyclothon, the level of enthusiasm soared new heights with constant hooting and cheering. Running alongside these kids were 10 participants of the Nina Foundation on their two-wheelers. “Even our wheelchairs have two wheels and we don’t pollute the atmosphere either,” said one of the participants.

International Elite Ride & National Elite Ride

The more professional categories like the National Elite Ride (50 km) and the International Elite Ride (90 km) saw huge participation in numbers with 22 teams and 10 teams taking part in the national and international riding categories.

The cyclists from all over the world who were invited to participate in this race, cycled over an expanse of 100 kilometers. The event was flagged off at the Mumbai suburbs. Many well known cyclists from around the world participated in the game among which Australia’s Stuart O’Grady and Baden Cooke demands a mention, as both have participated in the esteemed “Tour De France”. The Mumbai Cyclothon was recognized by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and had been backed by many eminent cyclist of the world.

Mr L Ramkumar, Mg Director Tube Investments of India and Dr D Raghuram, President T I Cycles monitoring the event

Argentina’s Jose Juan Haedo won the inaugural Tour de Mumbai; India’s first professional cycling race sanctioned by the sport’s governing body with timing of 2:15.07, The Team Saxo Bank sprinter took the $50,000 first prize after shaking free of Germany’s Dirk Mueller, from Team Nutrixxion-Sparkasse, on the final lap of the 90-kilometre course.

The pair had been part of a six-man breakaway for much of the race, which took place in searing temperatures in Mumbai’s northern suburbs, but they struck out together with four of the 32 laps to go.

German rider Tobias Eller, from the Tabriz Petrochemical Cycling Team, suffered a puncture with five laps to go but still managed to sprint into third place. The Australian sprinter Baden Cooke, who was fourth and fellow countryman Stuart O’Grady, who finished in the peloton.

Of the 14 Indian riders compromising of two teams, 12 were told to pull over as they are about to be lapped. Only two, Amandeep Singh and Harpreet Singh of the national squad, were able to complete the race.

“The fantastic response we received through the BSA Hercules India cyclothon held in Mumbai today is a stepping stone towards putting India on the International cycling map. Such events will boost our country’s efforts to contribute further to a healthier and greener world which we, as a developing nation, aim to achieve.” says. Dr. Raghuram, President, TI Cycles.

Shri Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa (MP), President Cycling Federation of India and Mr Vinay Khurana, Editor/Publisher Indian Bicycle Ambassador at VIP lounge

“Our main aim of promoting cycling through the Being Human Tour De Mumbai - Mumbai Cyclothon is to bring professional international cycling to India. Moreover it’s the best and easiest way to keep your heart healthy and fight the increasing risk of heart diseases that seems to be plaguing our people at a very young age”, said Dr. Akil Khan, Chairman and Managing Director, ID sports.

“The fantastic response we received through the BSA Hercules India cyclothon held in Mumbai today is a stepping stone towards putting India on the International cycling map. Such events will boost our country’s efforts to contribute further to a healthier and greener world which we, as a developing nation, aim to achieve.” Dr. Raghuram President, TI Cycles

Speaking at this event, Satish Menon, CEO of Sport 18 said, “The BSA Hercules India Cyclothon – Mumbai chapter provided the amateur riders excellent opportunity to cycle on the Mumbai’s latest landmark – The Bandra-Worli Sea Link, thus inspiring and motivating a lot the youngsters to consider the sport seriously. In coming years, we intend to take the India Cyclothon nation-wide contribute towards a healthy and pollution-free India.”

David McQuaid, Race Director - UCI said, “I am delighted to see such an overwhelming response in India for cycling as a sport. This event has been executed in an excellent way by the organizers Sport 18 ID Sports. This is the first time UCI has permitted for an international race in India and I am very happy to direct the same.”

In addition to TI Cycles as the title sponsor for Mumbai Cyclothon, various other Corporates extended their association and participation in the event. Some of leading brands from corporate India namely Provogue. Union Bank of India, ICICI Lombard Insurance, Tata Group, Gitanjali, Reebok, Gatorade, Nature Valley, Volini, Nokia, Lilavati, Times of India, Bisleri, Gold’s Gym, Trident, MTV, CNBC-TV18, CNN-IBN, Bright Outdoors, Lilavati Hospitals, Topspin and John Gloster were on-board as partners. The KBS foundation in an indication of its support to cyclothon organized a Car-Free Day at Carter Road today. Partner like Red FM. Cinemax, Reebok and Café Coffee day in the lead up to the event engaged with their consumers through in-house promotional activities.

The First Cyclothon in Mumbai on Sunday the February 21 was held in six categories: International Elite event (90 kms), National Elite event (50 kms), Amateurs (24 kms). Corporate group ride (12 kms), Green ride (14 yrs and above, 12 Kms), Kids (8 yrs and above, 2 kms). The Amateurs’ route involved the sea link. Incidentally, the sea link was closed for public between 6 a.m. and 12 noon.

The top two races:
Only rider holding UCI licence were allowed to compete in the first two categories, i.e. the 90 km (2.8 km circuit of 32 laps) and the 50 ride for Indians.

Prize Money:

There were no prizes for any winners in the amateur, corporate group, green or kids’ races. Only International and National Elite categories winners had the substantial money for the top six finishers.

Total Prize Money was US$100.000 with the criterium winner standing to gain $50,000 and for the Indian winner the gain was of Rs 1,51,000.

Results:

Elite men International: 1 Juan Jose Haedo (Saxo Bank) 2:15.07; 2. Dirk Mullen (Nutrixxion), Tobias Erler (Tabriz Petrochemicals).

Point’s classification: Tobias Erler.

Elite Men’s National: 1. Dayala Ram Sharan, 2. Shishpal Jat, 3 Sarpreet Singh.

1st Prize Rs 1,51,000
Dayala Ram Sharan

Mr. L Ramkumar flaging off categorie of raceat the starting Point

2nd Prize Rs 1,00, 000
Shispal Jat

International participants and David McQuaid, Race Director - UCI at starting point

3rd Prize Rs 50,000
Sarpreet Singh.