Itanagar, Nov 9 (PTI) Around 25 mountain bikers, including three international participants from the UK, Nepal and Indonesia, are expected to compete in the sixth edition of Monduro, a high-altitude mountain biking event that began in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang on Monday, organisers said.
The main races are, however, scheduled for November 13 and 14, officials said.
Dedicated to the elusive snow leopard, the event titled ‘Monduro 6.0 – The Ghost of the Mountains’ seeks to promote adventure sports, wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism in the Himalayan region.
Inaugurating the programme, Tawang Deputy Commissioner Namgyal Angmo appreciated the Tawang Cycling Association (TCA) for organising six consecutive editions and helping establish the district as a mountain biking destination.
She urged participants to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship and give priority to safety, particularly by ensuring proper acclimatisation to the challenging high-altitude conditions.
TCA president Sangey Tsering briefed the gathering on the event format, trails and participating riders.
He said the association was committed to promoting mountain biking among youths and showcasing Tawang’s potential as an international adventure tourism destination.
He also credited Chief Minister Pema Khandu’s leadership for the growth of Monduro into an internationally recognised sporting event.
The competition will feature three categories — Men Elite, Hardtail and Women — with riders expected to test their endurance and technical skills across two mountain trails covering a total distance of around 22 km.
The first stage on November 13 will cover 12 km along the Lama Zhabshey-Kalyenbu-Methang-Tsu Tsey-Khinmey route, while the second stage on November 14 will span 10 km through Kimileng Tse-Chumin-Gromling-Dobley Tse-Gyagong Nunnery-Mandrelling-Drekhang. PTI UPL NN
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