The 11th edition of the Tour of Nilgiris (TfN), an annual cycling tour organised by the Ride A Cycle Foundation (RAC-F), an advocacy organisation based in Bangaluru, reached here on Saturday after covering around 830 km.
“The eight-day expedition is aimed at bringing back the culture of cycling by creating awareness in society on the virtues of using cycle and its benefits,” says Sridhar Pabbisetty, co-founder, RAC-F.
Popularising cycling for commuting, leisure, and as an agent of social change are among its objectives, says Mr. Sridhar.
“After a satisfying first decade, the Tour of Nilgiris is stepping into the second decade with greater determination to provide cycling enthusiasts a world-class tour that offers an experience encompassing different elements,” he says.
He said the tour over the years had become a training ground for budding cyclists to test their endurance and hone their skills in the presence of international cyclists.
Mr. Sridhar said the first six days of the tour were mesmerising and the fourth day tested the endurance and character of the cyclists when they climbed the Kalhatti ghat section on the Nilgiris.
The tour, which initially had greater participation from Bengaluru, had over the years attracted cyclists from across the country and other nations.
“The 11th edition of the tour attracted 110 cyclists, including 29 cyclists from 13 countries,” Mr.Sridhar added.
The cyclists, including 18 women, would have covered nearly 950 km around the pristine Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve across the Western Ghats, winding through Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, when the tour ends in Mysuru on Sunday.
