Hundreds of cyclists hit Mysuru streets for L’Etape by Tour de France

Hundreds of cyclists hit the streets of Mysuru early on Sunday, riding past heritage buildings and streets being decorated for Dasara festivities for the inaugural India edition of L’Etape by Tour de France, a globally recognised amateur cycling series.

Mysuru MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya were among the dignitaries who flagged off the cycling event, which the organizers claimed attracted nearly 1,500 cyclists from across the country and abroad, including the United States, Australia, Mexico, Sri Lanka, and France.

The first race of the day — the 100-km Elite Men — was flagged off at 6 a.m., closely followed by the 100-km Open, which saw both men and women competing. This was followed by the 50-km Open, which was flagged off at 6.45 a.m., the 20-km at 7 a.m., and the 1-km Kids Race at 9 a.m.

“The 100 km race took riders through challenging stretches, including the climb at Chamundi Hills, while the shorter distances offered a chance to experience Mysuru at a more leisurely pace,” said a statement by the organisers.

Krishna Nayakodu claimed the Yellow Jersey in the Men’s Elite 100-km race with a timing of 2:14:49, while Kavya Murthy secured the Women’s 100-km title in 2:56:22.

While the Green Jersey for the Sprint Segment went to Santosh Kurani, Sreenath Lakshmikanth took the Polka Dot Jersey for the Chamundi Hills King of the Mountain climb. Neeraj Kumar was recognised as the Best Young Rider, while the 50-km Ride saw Naufal M.H. and Murugan Saraswathi emerge as category winners, according to the statement.

“The morning had an entirely different rhythm on the 20 km Family Fun Ride and the 1 km Kids & Community Ride. Parents cycled alongside their children, grandparents cheered from the roadside, and many participants took time to stop for photographs against the palace backdrop,” the statement said.

Mr. Nayakodu, winner of the Men’s Elite 100-km Race, is part of the Indian Air Force and is posted in Punjab. A regular at cycling events across the country, he said: “Winning the very first edition of L’Étape in India means a great deal to me. The Chamundi Hills climb really tested our legs, but the crowd support along the route kept us going.”

Ms. Murthy, winner of the Women’s 100-km Race, said: “I am a triathlete, but this was my first cycling event and what a wonderful experience it has been. The entire route was very well-managed and extremely scenic.”

Sanjeev Sharma, winner of the Open 100-km Race, is from Delhi and spent years working in IT before taking a break to follow his passion for cycling full-time. Now 49 and still going strong, he has competed in endurance cycling events across the United Kingdom and the United States, the statement said.

Mr. Naufal, who recorded the fastest timing among the men in the 50-km Ride, is from Mysuru and works with the State government.