Country's only downhill mountain bike challenge going places

MANALI: The country's only downhill mountain bike competition is going places.
The Himalayan Mountain Bike Festival that had kicked off in Manali on July 16 concluded with tremendous response from bikers around the world on Monday.
Professional mountain bikers from six countries participated in two categories — Himalayan Trails 'n' Dust and Himalayan Downhill Bike Challenge.
As many as 30 professional bikers from United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Nepal and India took part in the events.
In the first category, the trail was marked across Simsa, Kanyla, Club House and Palchan villages. In the downhill race, bikers came face-to face with several obstacles like rocks, pits, shrubs, trees, slush and free falls.
"Besides bikers from different countries, we had participants from Mumbai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Shillong, Gurgaon, Delhi and Himachal Pradesh. All bikers rated our biking trails as one of the best trails of the world," said Naveen Barongpa, one of the organizers from Himalayan Mountain Bike Network. He added that this was the fifth edition of Himalayan Trails 'n' Dust and second Himalayan Downhill Bike Challenge.
Devender Thakur from Kullu bagged the first prize while Sandeep Madaan from Chandigarh and Sunil from Kullu finished second and third, respectively, in Himalayan Trails 'n' Dust competition.
In Downhill challenge, Rajesh Magar from Nepal finished first and Suman Tamang from Nepal and Ajay Padval from Pune bagged second and third prizes, respectively.
Akshay Chaudhary from Gurgaon, Raj Kaushal from Manali and Jeewan Jeet Singh from Chandigarh finished first, second and third, respectively, in amateur category. Winners were awarded cash prize and goodies in a prize distribution ceremony.
Indian mountain biking pioneer Sameer Dharmdhikary, who came from the US to encourage bikers at the event, said Manali has become a mountain biking hub of the country by organizing such thrilling events. "We should encourage youth to adopt such environment and health friendly sports. It is good that more and more people from across the world are showing interest in this event."