CHENNAI: Bringing elite cycling to Chennai for the first time, Tamil Nadu sports minister Udhayanidhi Stalin announced the launch of HCL Cyclothon at a city hotel here on Wednesday. The event, which will cater to professional cyclists, amateurs and hobbyists, will be held on October 8 along the ECR Road.
The first edition of the event was held in Noida earlier this year, and Chennai will host the second one. The initiative, being held under the aegis of the Cycling Federation of India, features a prize purse of Rs30 lakh — Rs 15 lakh for professionals and Rs15 lakh for amateurs.
The professional category will have a 55km road race, while the amateurs can compete in a 55km road race or a 24km mountain bike race. The third category, called the ‘Green Race’, is open for all citizens aged above 18 years.
Registrations have been opened and will close on September 20. More details are available at www.hclcyclothon.com.
Speaking on the occasion, Udhayanidhi said: “Tamil Nadu has a rich tradition of producing professional athletes in multiple sports. Our vision is to position ourselves as a global destination for sports by shoring up infrastructure and bringing world-class sporting events to the state.”
