What makes the series unique is it is open to cyclists of all ages. From competitive cyclists to children, anyone can participate in four different categories defined in this series, said a release. It includes 100 km, ‘The Race’ for competitive riders, 50 km ‘The Ride’ for fitness enthusiasts, 20 km ‘Family Fun Ride’, which is open to all ages, and 1-km Kids Community Ride.
The release said registrations are already open and have drawn interest from domestic and international riders. Organisers expect the first edition to draw participation from around 2,500 riders.
Born in 1903 as an idea by French sports journalist Géo Lefèvre to boost the readership of his struggling newspaper L’Auto, Tour de France has grown over 120 years into the most watched annual sporting event.
Addressing the media, M.N. Anucheth, Deputy Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of the Department of Information and Public Relations, said: “Mysuru’s heritage and its association with sport and culture make it the ideal host city for an event of this global stature. The route through the city’s landmarks will not only test riders, but also showcase Karnataka’s heritage to a national and international audience. We are proud to support an event that brings together sport, tourism, and community welfare.”
Dara Rith U.Y., project manager, Amaury Sport Organisation, said: “Mysuru offers a unique combination of scenic routes, excellent road conditions, and cultural richness that aligns perfectly with the values of L’Étape. The inclusion of Chamundi Hills as our ‘King of the Mountain’ (KOM) segment gives Mysuru its own iconic climb, in the tradition of L’Étape events around the world.”
L’Étape Mysuru’s technical team unveiled the route map. Riders across categories will make their way past some of Mysuru’s iconic heritage landmarks before taking on the signature climb of the event, the ascent of Chamundi Hills, which will serve as the official KOM segment. The climb is timed, giving riders the opportunity to compete for KOM points.
It will also follow the iconic jersey classifications associated with the Tour de France, recognising top performers across categories. The Yellow Jersey will go to the overall male and female winners, while the Green Jersey will be awarded to the fastest male and female riders on the sprint segment.
The Polka Dot Jersey will recognise the fastest male and female riders on the Chamundi Hills KOM climb, and the White Jersey will be awarded to the best young riders.
The event will also carry forward GivingBack, an initiative of the Sita Bhateja Charitable Trust dedicated to providing free and subsidised neuro and spine surgeries to those who cannot afford them.
Interested persons can log onto https://mysamay.in/public/events for registrations. September 25 is the last date to register. For The Race for competitive riders (100 km), the fee is is ₹8,000; The Ride for fitness enthusiasts (50 km), it is ₹5,000; and for Family Fun Ride (20 km) open to all ages, it is ₹2,000.
