Wheeling her way to glory: Anjali Bhalinge becomes first Pune woman to finish gruelling Paris-Brest-Paris ride

“Completing the PBP in the stipulated time of 90 hours is a seriously prestigious feather in one’s cycling cap,” Bhalinge who is back in Pune told The Indian Express. Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) held every four years is like a carnival of cycling and to qualify for this event that covers a distance of about 1,220 km, the participant has to complete a series of endurance rides of 200, 300, 400, and 600 km organised by the Audax organisation. The ride that commenced on August 20 had to be completed within 90 hours.

“From start to finish, this is not a race, but a self-supported ride. One has to carry quite a few things including lights, a tool kit, extra tubes, rain and cold protection clothing, and food supplies. Good gear and proper planning help. It is important to schedule your sleep and eat stops properly. One has to take care to avoid sleep deprivation, else one faces the problem of hallucinations, falling off the bike, going on the wrong route,” Bhalinge said.

“Rambouillet, the start point which is a town on the outskirts of Paris, is like a mela, a jamboree of cyclists from all over the world. They all come for this amazing experience of sharing the road with over 6,000 riders representing over 60 countries,” the endurance athlete said.

Bhalinge managed to ace the ride through all the control points well-within cut-off times. “Being in the 90-hour time limit bracket, I even had two hours to spare! My ride was 87 hours, 59 min, 50 sec. I rolled back into Rambouillet to a fantastic welcome by people standing and clapping for riders near the castle of Rambouillet. What an unforgettable rollercoaster ride,” she added.

Anjali Bhalinge said, “Cyclists see considerably more of this beautiful world than any other class of citizens.” (Express Photo)

“At my age, when there is a bucket list for some, PBP was actually never on my mind. But then, cycling has always taken me places. One of my memorable rides has been the India-Myanmar-Thailand ride in 2019,” she said.

Quoting K K Doty, Bhalinge said, “Cyclists see considerably more of this beautiful world than any other class of citizens.”

Bhalinge, who has retired from her professional duties to take care of her parents and in-laws, said a regular workout discipline is important. “It is like having a bath or eating a meal. Fitness is a lifestyle,” she said and urged women to ensure that they get that one hour of daily fitness routine. Having a supportive husband and daughters ensured that she met her goals, she added.

From scaling more than 6,000 metre high peaks, cycling up the Umling-la, the highest motorable road in the world, to being a certified scuba diver, Bhalinge has done it all.

“At the end of the day, it is overwhelming to have people cheering you at the roadside, at all hours of the day and night,” she said, recalling moments of the PBP ride.

“PBP showed me the picturesque French countryside. From the Paris region, it took us first through Normandy with its medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals surrounded by prestigious stud farms with stunning horses. Then we entered the Brittany region with its fairytale towns and a rugged coastline, where land meets the sea, with salty sea breeze whipping through. Brest, the port city, gave us a beautiful view of the Atlantic. This being the halfway point, we turned around and found the return was tougher… All this in a ride to be done under 90 hours. That includes four nights.

“This is a test of endurance, tenacity, and strength, physical as well as mental. But it is wonderful to ride through the decorated villages to celebrate this event like a festival. Some stay up all night to serve you coffee and snacks outside their houses or shout ‘Allez! Allez! Allez’ to keep you going through the dark,” she added.