PUNE, APRIL 4: Only the fittest survive and so it was today in the 41st edition of the Balsara Mumbai-Pune cycle race. Bijapur's Mallappa H Hirenkurar, 20, finished in a blaze of glory. He rode in like a lone warrior, crossing the finish line in 4 hours, 27 minutes and 24 seconds.In a close battle for the second spot, Pune's Vishal Pawar grabbed second spot, clocking 4 hours, 33 minutes and 28 seconds ahead of Sivram Chaudhari of Western Railway - a mere second behind.Flagged off at the Mayor's Bungalow in Mumbai, some cyclists broke off when nearing Vashi. An accident at this point saw a skidding cyclist at the rear take a few competitors with him.Nearing Khopoli, Rajendra Soni of Western Railways surged ahead with Sivram Chaudhari breathing down his neck. Tailing them was Sandeep Mallick. Rajendra eventually won the Khopoli Prime and a cash prize of Rs 800.Then came the sternest test of all. The notorious Bhor Ghat emerged and with the scorching sun beating down, the test for survival was welland truly on.And surely enough, of the 117 riders that started, just 32 crossed the ghats, after making their way uphill at only 20 kmph.First to come into view was Hirenkurar who bagged the King of Bhor Ghat title while opening up a sizeable - and decisive - lead.Results & prizes1. Mallappa Hanmanthappa Hirenkurar (Bijapur) 4.27:24; 2. Vishal D Pawar (Pune) 4.33.28; 3. Sivram Chaudhari (Western Railway) 4.33.29; 4. Sanjay Maral (Pune) 4:33.39; 5. Shankar Rathod (Karnataka) 4:41.04; New Talent: Deepak Reddy (Pune); King of Bhor Ghat: MH Hirenkurar (Bijapur) 26:28.85 secs; SS Lamani 27.28 ; Sivram Choudhary (Western Rly) 27.48; Panvel Prime: LAC D K Gulia (Air Force) 50.20; Sivram Chaudhari (Western Rly); Santosh Pansare (Mumbai); Khopoli Prime: Rajendra Soni (Central Rly); Sivram Chaudhari (Western Rly); Sandeep Malik (Air Force); Kamshet Prime: Sanjay Maral (Pune); Vishal Pawar Pune); DK Gulia (Air force).
