Arunachal: The Monduro 4.0 cycling event, the world’s highest endurance mountain biking competition and part of the Asia Enduro Series this year, is underway in Tawang.
Local MLA Namgay Tsering flagged off the event on Saturday at the Tawang Walkthrough Market in the presence of Tawang Brigade Commander Brigadier VS Rajput, ADC Sang Khandu, DTO Tsering Deki and other senior officials.
The event is organised by the Tawang Cycling Association led by Dr Dukhum Magu and sponsored by the state tourism department.
This year’s event has attracted participants from eight foreign countries and across India.
With a challenging course starting at an altitude of 14,400 feet and descending to a height of 8,000 feet, the Monduro 4.0 is considered one of the toughest races in the world. The competitors include UCI World Champion 2024, Alex Rudeau of France, and current downhill champion Nirav Shrestha of Nepal, among other title holders from the endurance racing community. During the opening ceremony, Tsering said that “Monduro 4.0 is expected to further boost tourism in Tawang by inviting international participants to share the natural beauty and scenic landscapes of Arunachal Pradesh with a global audience.” The MLA also lauded Dr Magu and his team for their efforts to revive traditional walking paths, historically used by residents of Tawang for travel and trade with Tibet, which have now been included as part of the Monduro route. Brigadier VS Rajput underlined the importance of such events in promoting camaraderie and endurance. The organisers have arranged practice races on November 10 and 11 to support the acclimatisation of the participants ahead of the final race on November 13 and 14.
