Top cyclists to participate in two-day mountain bike event

Biking professionals and aficionados from India and abroad will test their endurance and expertise in the rugged terrain of the Western Ghats as the two-day MTB (Mountain Bike) Kerala gets underway at Mananthavady in Wayanad from December 21.

This year's event will take the riders through a 5-km stretch at an altitude of 3,000 feet that encompasses terrains like dirt, rock and water.

According to a press release, MTB Kerala is the first mountain bike race in India to be featured in the MTB race calendar of Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the Swiss-based world governing body for sports cycling and overseas international competitive cycling events.

The success of MTB Kerala has placed the state on the global map of mountain biking, Tourism minister Kadakampally Surendran said.

This years race will be held in three categories: International Cross Country, National Cross Country Men, and National Cross Country Women.

An added attraction of the event is that it also includes for the first time an additional race for amateurs, titled 'Fun & Thrill Challenge.'