Deccan Cliffhanger race from November 7

Deccan Cliffhanger, an 643 km Ultra Cycling Race from Pune to Goa for solo and relay teams will commence from November 7 at 5am. Finishers of the 32-hour race will be qualified for the Race Across America (RAAM). This year, there are 18 solo participants and 13 teams, of two, three of four members, totaling 60 participants.

Divya Tate, the first woman ultra-cyclist in India who qualified for the 1,200 km race in France and is also involved with the management of Deccan Cliffhanger said, “Finishing the solo race would be an official entry to RAAM within 32 hours. We have received good response from participants as well as sponsorships for the race. Each participant would be provided three crew members following the participant in a car throughout the race, as our first priority is safety.”

“I was in the crew in RAAM and there was only one qualifier from India a few years ago. This set the idea of starting an ultra-cycling race in India I spoke with RAAM officials and they allotted Deccan Cliffhanger as a qualifier for RAAM,” she added.

“Good cycling events which are challenging and well organised will promote the sport in India. More choices for cyclists will bring even more cyclists in the nation. We are expecting at least six qualifiers to the RAAM from this year’s race,” said RAAM President Fred Boethling.

The only Indian woman to have qualified for RAAM is Pune’s Saniya Patil, who is all set to take part in Deccan Cliffhanger again this year. “I’m quite new to ultra-cycling but I was a contestant in the previous edition of Deccan Cliffhanger. I have been training for the last three months for the race in ghats and on highways and am hoping to finish the race with best timings,” said Patil.

The last edition winner of Deccan Cliffhanger, Chaitanya Velhal, who is up and ready to compete in the race this year said, “I have sacrificed my job and my social life for this race. I finished the race in 26 hours 40 minutes last time and I aim to break my own record. I was also in the crew of a cyclist from Canada this year in RAAM to experience the grand race. I am targeting the 2017 RAAM.”