The Tour of Nilgiris, since its inception in 2008, has grown to become India’s premier bicycling event, and this year, the multi-day tour route covering 900km across south India will pass through the three wildlife sanctuaries of Bandipur in Karnataka, Wayanad in Kerala and Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu. The chosen terrain tests the riders’ endurance, temperament and physical and mental limits. The highlight of the Montra Tour of Nilgiris 2014 is the ‘King/Queen of the Mountains’ climb to Kalahatty from Masinagudi to Ooty. The climb to Kalahatty is considered a ‘hors catégorie’, meaning something that is ‘beyond categorisation’ – in other words, such a climb is one of the toughest possible. The Kalahatty climb gains 1,200m of elevation in about 12km.
Many of the cyclists taking part in the Montra Tour of Nilgiris 2014 are charity riders, who are highlighting and raising funds for various causes: environment, children, education issues. Of the 75 riders at the Tour of Nilgiris this year, about 13 per cent are from countries such as the UK, Netherlands, Italy and Switzerland, and about 10 per cent of the participants are women. Overall, the participants are a mixed bunch of pro tour athletes, amateurs and enthusiasts.
The route for the Montra Tour of Nilgiris 2014 is: Bangalore-Mysore (approx. 168 km); Mysore-via Kalhatty-Ooty (approx. 115km); Ooty-Kodnad-Ooty (approx. 100km); Ooty-Pallakaad (approx. 163 km); Pallakkad-Valparai (approx. 108km); Valparai-Munnar (approx. 172km); loops around Munnar (approx. 50km). Tour dates: December 16 to 23, 2014, including a rest day. Website: http://tourofnilgiris.com