PANJIM: Cycling enthusiasts from across the country and abroad will be converging in the State for a once in a lifetime experience as the Goa International Mountain Bike Challenge (GIMBC) is slated to be held from October 16 to 18. The event has a total prize money of Rs 3,50,000.
GIMBC is India’s first multi-stage cross country race. The three stage intensive cycling event has seen registration of over 50 cycling enthusiast from across the country, which include five from Goa.
Participants from Switzerland, Australia, and Portugal have also registered and will be arriving in the State shortly while the riders from Nepal who happen to be podium finishers at the Himalyan MTB are already in Goa.
GIMBC will be in a cross country format conducted on three different routes on three consecutive days. The GIMBC race is divided into three categories, general Men and Women and the Masters Category (above 45 years).
On the first day, individual time trial of 2km followed by 6km x 7 laps (42km) of cross country will be held.
Devil’s circuit which include 7km x 8 laps (56km) of cross country will be held on the second day. The first and second stage of the race will be held on routes chalked out in Dharbondora and Ugeum.
The third day event which is aimed to be audience friendly will be held at Dona Paul with a 4km x 8 lap (32km) of city based cross country trail.
The race is lap based with the courses and trails spread across rough forest paths, single track/ double track, smooth fire roads and even paved paths connecting other trails.
The event will feature over 50 participants most of whom will be travelling from outside Goa, including an international Swiss cyclist Pablo Erat a well-known participant in triathlons in the Goan Circuit. The race will feature the best of talent amongst the MTB riders in India and internationally, which will definitely amplify the excitement.
The Department of Goa Tourism and Sports Authority of Goa has partnered with Cycling Goa for the event.
The medical partners for GIMBC are Manipal Hospitals, while DOT properties Uguem, Jungle Book Collem, Club Gaspar Dias and YMCA are the hospitality and venue partners
Cycling Goa is a registered association of cycling enthusiasts in Goa. The cycling group aims to get people to take up cycling as a sport, recreation, exercise or means of transport. These enthusiasts come from different professional backgrounds and are unified by the passion of cycling.
