MARGAO: A record 142 cyclists, including seven women riders, completed Xaxtti-200, organised by Margao-based Xaxti Riders and supported by Verna Industries Association (VIA), recently.
The event involved more than 200 km of cycling atop a total elevation of 2,850 meters – equivalent to a third of the Mount Everest’s height of 8,848 metres – to be completed within 14:30 hours.
“It was a scenic yet rugged route, engineered to test the endurance of the body and strength of the mind,” said Sameer Nadkarni of Xaxti Riders. “I humbly salute each and every rider who participated in this toughest-ever cycling challenge.”
Xaxti-200 was flagged off by the physically-challenged cycling enthusiast, Tinkesh Kaushik.
Navin Naik and Prince Colaco were the fastest riders, reaching the Xaxti-200 Finish Point within 9:00 and 9:30 hours respectively.
Among women riders, Dr Belinda Viegas-Mueller and Anuradha Guglani, were the first to finish the challenge in 11:30 hours.
Dr Belinda’s name appears in the Limca Book of Records as the only Indian woman cyclist to have completed three 1,200-km rides in a single calendar year.
22-year-old Avinash Gaonkar of Kazur village, near Netravali who was the third to finish the gruelling ride (9:30 hours) on his ordinary, single-speed bicycle was the highlight of the event.
“We are truly proud of Avinash and will soon induct him in our Xaxti Racing Initiative,” revealed Nadkarni.
