Seventy-five intrepid cyclists set out from here on Saturday morning to conquer the rocky terrain of Himachal Pradesh for the eighth edition of the ‘Hercules MTB Himachal 2012’, India’s premier international mountain biking rally.
During the 438-km expedition spread over nine days, the cyclists will pedal through Himalayan terrain to test their endurance and skill.
“The rally started from Shimla’s ridge and will pass through Shimla and Kullu districts before culminating in Shimla on October 6,” Mohit Sood, president of the Himalayan Adventure Sports and Tourism Promotion Association, the club organising the event, said.
He said participants included 13 foreign bikers from Nepal, Britain, the Netherlands, the US, Belgium, Canada and Uzbekistan.
The average altitude of the trail following the ridge is 2,450 metre. The Jalori Pass in Kullu district is the toughest and highest point in the rally. On an average, a cyclist will pedal about 70 km daily.
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