When Hyderabad’s Rajesh Krishnamaneni took up cycling in 2016 for fitness, he never anticipated that he would pull off stunning records in long-distance cycling events in just three years time.
In 2017, the 36-year-old successfully completed one of the toughest races in the world — the Swiss Alps 4k cycling. This was followed by the prestigious London-Edinburgh-London (LEL) cycling challenge in the same year. Significantly, he was the only Indian to pull off these two feats back-to-back. Reflecting on his rare distinction, Rajesh states, “I feel very gratified; it just goes to show that when you love what you are doing, you can excel to any extent. These achievements only push me to thrive for greater excellence.” Rajesh is now all geared up to take part in the celebrated Paris–Brest–Paris (PBP) cycling event (conducted by France-based Audax Club Parisien) to be held in Paris between August 8 and 22. Interestingly, out of 320 Indians participating in the ride, 25 members are from the Hyderabad Randonneurs group, including Rajesh.
The event, which happens every four years, requires cyclists to complete a distance of 1,200 km within 90 hours, starting from Paris to Brest and then back to Paris.
Rajesh Krishnamaneni
“It’s like the cycling World Cup, and getting to be part of such a big event means a lot to every cyclist. After all, it is the most sought-after cycling ride where over 7,000 cyclists from over 80 countries take part. It’s also a great opportunity for us to understand how cyclists from other countries perceive cycling as a sport,” he explains.
While the group has been prepping up for the gruelling event, Rajesh states that the challenge lies in getting used to the weather conditions in France. “Since we will be travelling towards the coast, the wind speed depends on wavering weather conditions, countering heat waves, cross winds, etc. is challenging. Also, it is important for us to stay fit throughout,” says Rajesh.
Meanwhile, another member of Hyderabad Randonneurs, Sadananda Reddy Vundyala, Additional SP of Bhoopalapally district, is also ecstatic about the PBP ride. “My earlier experience of taking part in the London-Edinburgh-London ride came in handy to prepare for the PBP ride. I am able to understand how to adjust to sudden changes in the weather conditions,” shares the 54-year-old.
Stating that participating in the ride and experiencing it is more important. “Since it is a long distance journey, our bodies might experience a few niggles but as the ride progresses, we need to change the plan and ride according to our body metabolism,” shares Sadananda.
Prasad Raju, a first time rider from the group believes that the biggest challenge will be to adjust to the topography of the PBP event. “I was told that the terrains are sort of ‘climbs and rolling’, so that’s something I am looking forward to counter through hours of endurance tests and practice,” he reveals.
For 23-year-old Gautham Reddy Surakanti, the ride is all about meeting new people and sharing their fascination for cycling. “I want to understand how much they value cycling and their knowledge about the sport,” he adds.
“Mid-way in the race, we may lag behind due to mechanical failures or exhaustion. So it is important that we give up on our sleep to cope up with the lost time,” reveals Gautham, who took up cycling only two years back after he discovered the joy of riding long-distance.
‘PBP is like Olympics of Cycling’
Dr Mandula Nagaraj, a city-based anesthesiologist, states that participating in the PBP ride is a great achievement in itself. Dr Nagaraj, who started cycling a couple of years back as a stress-reliever, admits that representing the country on such a global platform is something he never dreamt of.
Describing PBP as the ‘Olympics of Cycling’, the 57-year-old states, “I just started cycling in 2016, and I really never expected to be a part of the PBP event. It’s a great opportunity for me to get exposure to cycling at a global level,” adding, “Getting acclimatised to the weather conditions will be the toughest challenge.” Dr Nagaraj has been preparing extensively for the event. He jets off for a 50 km ride early in the morning at 3 am and comes back at 7:30. “That’s how I plan my schedule so that I can be at work at 8. This is how I learnt to strike a fine work-life balance,” explains the doctor, who has earlier completed the 200, 400, 600 and 1000 km brevets.
