Mumbai-Pune cycle race flags off today

Mumbai will see the largest participation with 26 cyclists registering for the marquee event,which is celebrating its golden edition this year. Karnataka has sent in second-largest contingent with 23 cyclists with Pune making it to third place with 18.

With the Maharashtra Cycling Association and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) being the sponsor the participation this time has increased with over 155 signing in for the event until a day before the race.

The all-India level event organised under the aegis of the Cycling Federation of India (CFI),will have 13 cyclists from Army,13 from Andhra Pradesh,seven from Ahmednagar and six each from South-Western Railway and Haryana.

With five seasoned cyclists coming in from MIRC Patiala,the 153-km race is sure to get more value in terms of quality of competition. Chuni Lal,Sombir Singh,Satya Prakash,Rajesh Kumar Chaudhary and Atul Kumar will be the cyclists to watch out for.

The winner will get Rs 1 lakh,the most vaulted ‘King of Ghat’ title will earn Rs 31,000. The race will be flagged off from Chembur before it would have completed 20-km through neutral zone from Gateway of India to RK Studio in Chembur. The Minister of Public Works Chhagan Bhujbal will flag off the race at Gateway of India in Mumbai,while Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will be the chief guest at the prize distribution ceremony at the finish line near Sambhaji Park in Pune.