AIZAWL, Oct 27: Marking a milestone in India’s adventure sports scene, the country’s first urban downhill mountain biking event began in Aizawl, Mizoram, on Friday. Organised by Red Bull, the two-day event has drawn elite mountain bikers from both India and abroad, highlighting India’s growing enthusiasm for extreme sports.
The competition hosts 21 riders, including three from Mizoram. Day one allowed for practice runs, while the main race will take place on Saturday along a challenging course between a Presbyterian church in Upper Republic locality and Hawla Indoor Stadium in ITI Veng. Czech mountain biking icon Tomáš Slavík is also present as a mentor, guiding participants through the rigorous course.
The event winner will secure a place in a prestigious Red Bull biking competition in South America. Urban downhill mountain biking challenges racers with complex routes involving closed-off streets, staircases, and tight turns, demanding high levels of skill and agility.
Popular in cities like Valparaiso in Chile, Medellin in Colombia, and Mexico’s Guanajuato, urban downhill courses often wind through narrow passages, steep stairs, and sharp curves, with minimal practice time allowed before the main race. This unique format pushes riders to their limits as they strive to achieve the fastest descent in an intense, city-based competition.
