The cyclists from Bijapur district outdid other participants and emerged victorious in the 45th State-level bicycle race organised by the district Republic Day Celebration Committee to mark the 62nd Republic Day celebration.

The bicycle riding contest in which the contestants had to ride cycle on the complicated Malnad road for about 56km from Kottigehara to Chikmagalur saw Sakhu P Ganiger from Bagalkot win the first prize in the men’s category by covering the distance in 1:15:51 seconds.

Lakkappa B Kuruni from the same district came second by completing the race in 1:15:72 seconds and Madesha S Rolli from the same district won the third prize by covering the distance in 1:16:51 seconds.

In the women’s category where the contestant had to cover a distance of 30 km from Mudigere to Chikmagalur, Geethanjali Jothappanavar won the first prize by covering the distance in 1:10:15 seconds and Shahira P Atthar from the same district came second by finishing the target in 1:11:12 seconds. Pariyala B Jamdar from the same district came third by covering the distance in 1:12:16 seconds.

In the third category where the contestants had to cover 21 km from Handi to Chikmagalur, the first three places where won by Bijapur cyclists. B M Sangamesh won the first place by covering the distance in 39.53 seconds, Yalaguresh I Gaddi won the second place in 39.58 seconds and Ramappa M Ambi won the third prize by covering the distance in 39.80 seconds. MLA MP Kumaraswamy flagged off the race.