Naveen John is feeling each excited and wistful forward of The Pune Grand Tour. Photograph: AFP/File
NEW DELHI:
Naveen John can’t assist feeling each excited and wistful forward of what he calls the “greatest alternative” for an Indian rider.
Excited, as a result of he will likely be racing within the first-ever multi-stage highway race in India, a UCI 2.2 labeled worldwide biking occasion. Unhappy, as a result of it didn’t come when he was youthful and never pushing 40 as he’s now.
“Older males at all times want they had been youthful,” John informed Reuters in an internet dialogue. “One of many foremost causes I remained on this sport for therefore lengthy is as a result of I knew one thing like this was not far away.”
Unfold throughout 437 kilometres and 4 phases, the Pune Grand Tour (PGT), which begins on Monday, will function round 170 riders from 35 nations, together with 12 locals.
Organisers hope the race will unlock biking’s potential on the earth’s most populous nation and put biking on the centre of India’s Olympic planning.
“It isn’t rocket science,” Maninder Pal Singh, secretary basic of the Biking Federation of India (CFI), informed Reuters by cellphone.
“Biking is the low-hanging fruit of all sports activities. All you want is a transparent roadmap. The extra occasions you host, the higher biking nation you change into – so simple as that.
“We’d like extra occasions, extra publicity for our riders. Olympic medals will observe.”
Proper now, with UCI occasions scarce in Asia and costly in Europe, Olympic participation has remained a distant dream for John’s technology.
With Maharashtra committing long-term to it, nonetheless, the Pune race might mark a shift, particularly as at the least 4 different states have expressed curiosity in internet hosting comparable occasions.
John remembers the numerous emails and calls he made in 2016 earlier than touchdown a contract with an Australian crew, which made him the primary Indian to hitch an expert outfit.
Residence advantages
Extra dwelling races would make it simpler for youthful riders to win skilled contracts, he mentioned.
“I see it occurring. Earlier, you needed to attain out to some European director, who’s by no means seen you race towards different professionals. Now, if a rider finishes a stage race, he can attain out to a director in Australia or Spain, and say ‘I’ve achieved this race and I am 21. Are you able to give me a contract?'”
Given the variety of medals obtainable, CFI’s Singh mentioned, biking ought to be central to India’s Olympic planning.
“Biking provides the third highest variety of medals within the Olympics. You put together one rider for a number of medals. Take a look at the cash it’s essential spend in sure crew sports activities the place you goal simply two medals.”
With India bidding for the 2036 Olympics, John mentioned the timing was best.
“Ten years is type of an ideal time the place there is a sense of urgency and likewise sufficient time to make issues occur,” he added.
“Seeing the primary Indian winner of a UCI stage race, I feel, will occur in eight to 10 years and that aligns with the Olympic purpose additionally as a result of that is the extent we should be at.”
Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi mentioned they needed to market the town as a world tourism hub by means of the occasion.
“It’s going to be an annual occasion and our preparation is of the ProSeries degree,” Dudi informed Reuters.
“UCI is new markets and India is a big untapped marketplace for biking.”
