Cyclothon winner Robert Hunter sees red after race interruption in Mumbai
Cyclothon winner Robert Hunter sees red after race interruption in Mumbai
The Tour de Mumbai rolled out yesterday with Robert Hunter of Radio Shack (USA) winning the second stage of the tour in the Elite International men's race category.
The rider beat first runner-up Viviani Elia of Liquigas and second runner-up Jonathan McEvoy from British continental team Motorpoint in the revised 11-lap 79 km-stretch.
Elia was awarded the blue jersey under the 'consistent riders with maximum compatibility points' for his show in the Nasik and Mumbai leg.
The second edition of the Cyclothon kicked off from Bandra Reclamation near the Bandra-Worli Sea Link and it sawu00a0 Maharashtra Public Works Minister Chhagan Bhujbal take to the cycle.
After over an hour's delay to flag off the race and a collision with a non-participating cyclist hit the pace and the intensity of the international riders during the first lap.
Hunter, the yellow jersey winner did not seem much affected by the hot conditions but did alarm the authorities of mishaps which could have been avoided while organising such international events.
"The riders want the race to be simple and uncomplicated. Mumbai is not a small city and there are people and taxis all over. The collision made my team riders talk to the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), but things sorted out soon. The heat didn't play a major factor though," said Hunter.
An uninspiring looking Indian team comprised six riders, out of which four were from the Indian army and two from the Railways. As expected, the team was one of the last sprinters
in the race.
Indian ace Amandeep Singh seemed dejected with the lack of facilities. "Our bikes cost between the range of Rs 1.5 and three lakh and these international riders use high end bikes costing over Rs 6 lakh.
We do not have energy bars and gels to boost our stamina unlike them. The team never had a practice session before participating in the event. We participate only for the sake of it," Amandeep stressed.
