PANAJI: Youngsters coming through the ranks of any sports discipline, is an encouraging sign for the sport. TriGoa’s 50kms endurance cycle ride saw 13-year-old Akshat Shetty being the youngest cyclist to complete the ride. Rana Hayes (16), Selwyn Coelho (18), Megan Fernandes (19) and Micha Fernandes (19) also made it successfully.
A total of 76 cyclists completed the 50kms, 100kms and 200kms cycle rides organised by TriGoa Foundation on January 10.
Thirty-six cyclists completed the challenging 200kms Brevet Randonneur Mondiaux (BRM) ride. These cyclists left Panaji at 6am and cycled along South Goa’s coastline till Cavelossim and turned into Caurem and the Netravali wildlife sanctuary. They later cycled from Quepem-Margao-Borim-Loutolim-Old Goa to return to Panaji to complete the 200km BRM cycle ride within the stipulated 13 hours and 30 minutes to qualify for a medal from the Audax Club Paris, France.
Likewise, 20 cyclists successfully completed the 100kms Brevet Populaire (BP) cycle ride. They cycled from Panaji at 6.15 am and rode towards Cortalim-Dabolim-Majorda-Betalbatim and turned into Margao-Borim-Loutolim-Old Goa to return to Panaji within the stipulated time of seven hours and thirty minutes to qualify for a medal from Audax India Randonneurs (AIR).
In all, 20 cyclists completed the 50kms Half Century Ride which was organised to encourage teenagers, women and new riders to participate in cycling events. They cycled from Panaji at 6.30am and rode to St Jacinto island at Chicalim and returned to Panaji within the stipulated time of four hours to qualify for a medal from TriGoa. Akshat Shetty, a seventh standard student of Sunshine Worldwide school was the youngest cyclist to complete the 50km ride. He has previously completed 100kms rides as well in an impressive feat.
