Dehradun: Uttarakhand is preparing to revive the Ultimate Uttarakhand MTB Challenge, with more than 60 UCI-licensed cyclists expected to compete across nearly 700 kilometres of difficult mountain routes in the Garhwal and Kumaon regions.
The seven-day international mountain biking competition is tentatively scheduled for October 14 to 20. The event is being planned as part of the state’s efforts to promote adventure tourism during the winter season.
Competition to Begin in Mukteshwar
The proposed route will begin in Mukteshwar in Nainital district and pass through several hill areas before concluding in the Mussoorie hills of Dehradun district.
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Proposed route:
- Mukteshwar, Nainital
- Bageshwar
- Karnaprayag
- Guptkashi
- Tehri
- Mussoorie, Dehradun
This year’s route is proposed to include both regular roads and specially selected off-road tracks, adding varied terrain to the competition.
Event Last Held in Uttarakhand in 2017
The MTB Challenge was last organised in Uttarakhand in 2017. The state Tourism Department is now working on plans to bring the competition back.
A high-level meeting chaired by Tourism Secretary Dhiraj Singh Garbyal recently discussed preparations for the proposed event and ways to finalise the arrangements.
Joint Team to Conduct Route Reconnaissance
To assess the technical and safety requirements, the Tourism Secretary has directed the formation of a joint team involving the Cycling Federation of India, Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, GMVN, KMVN and technical experts.
The team will conduct a reconnaissance of the entire route within a week and assess the condition of:
- Uphill sections
- Sharp turns
- Off-road tracks
- Other technically challenging portions of the route
Event Planned as Annual Tourism Calendar Fixture
The Tourism Department has said the competition will be made a permanent feature of Uttarakhand’s annual tourism calendar.
According to the Tourism Secretary, the event is intended to promote adventure tourism while also supporting local employment and economic activity in border areas.
Officials and representatives associated with the preparations included Cycling Federation of India office-bearers, managing directors of GMVN and KMVN, and district tourism development officers.
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