50 th Mumbai Pune Race. The Pain Bringer!!!

My first ever cycle race was the 3^rd Pune Bicycle Championship in the October of 2012. It was a hill climb of about approximately 12 kms.  Out on my just 20 day old MTB I managed to finish among st the top 10. Knowing where I stood was a real eye opener. I started training every day after that. The tour to Goa was child’s play even after riding 100 plus kms for 5 consecutive days.  There was the 400 km brevet in December which was tough but I felt I should increase the difficulty level a bit more. So then I was thinking of taking part in the historical Mumbai – Pune race which was to be held on 13^th February 2013. Problem was, I did not have a road bike until exactly 3 days before the race. It was Dad’s idea to take part in the race.

 Now with the sparkling new cannondale carbon 6 under me (but no mileage with it) I went to Mumbai along with Nachiket Joshi. He was a great help in providing me almost all the help right from race logistics to jerseys. Sunil Chatekar was almost like our Team manager providing the car support.  Nachiket n Sunil had taken the car along with our 2 bikes ahead of me to Mumbai. I joined them later in the evening of the day before the race. Spent an hour checking our bikes n tires for the right pressure. Then nachya got our race numbers, which we cut em n put em on our jerseys n bikes in the most aerodynamic ways as possible.  I borrowed nachya’s Tour of Nilgiris jersey. Slept in early, after a heavy dinner of spicy chicken curry. Couldn't sleep for abt 2 hours, too anxious for my first National level race.

The night before. All set for the race. 56 - Nachi, 16- Me

Woke up early and left for the starting point, Gateway of India. The race was supposed to flag off by 7. We reached there around 20 minutes early. And the site there was impressive, the sun was just coming out if its shy morning form, but rarely do you get to see so many pro riders gathered in one place in India. It was a bit intimidating for me, the riders, their bright jerseys, their even brighter rides!!! The atmosphere was that of a tensed crouched up tiger, all awaiting to explode with their bikes. So we quickly assemble our bikes n wait where all the riders had crowded. Nachya as usual went off greeting his contacts. Then we waited more for the chief guest (Chagan Bhujbal) to arrive who was as usual late. He came, gave a brief speech, posed for photos on a poor competitors’ cycle (ruined the settings on the bike).  Anyway we were off soon towards chembur which was 20 km from the gateway. This was the neutral zone, meaning the timing is not included in the race, its just a warm up for all the riders. Took us about 40 minutes to reach the actual start of the race (R K studios, Chembur). I ended being right on the first line at the flag off. The race starts and even before I realise there are guys attacking left and right, like full throttle. Keeping up with the lead bunch was impossible for me. So I settle myself with the second peloton. The pace was still gruelling at around 37kmph but I hung on with the 25 odd bunch. It was my first experience riding in a peloton. It was scary, the riders were sledging and intimidating others. They even tried to push weaker riders off the road. I was focussing myself to keep cool n fighting to be in the peloton. Well I mean I never had a chance to win, but the experience was proving to be very worthwhile.

 After about an hour into the race just before Panvel, someone ahead of me slipped n crashed and with him he took down 10 others including me. I saw the crash happening about 20 feet ahead of me but keep in mind we were riding at about 35kmph on inch wide tyres. Avoiding a crash wasn’t an option, slowed down as much as possible n crashed into someone s rear wheel. Then as I was in midair falling, someone crashed their front wheel full speed into my left knee. And that my friends is the end of the race for me. I mean i couldn't get up for 5 minutes, the pile up was crazy. Everybody intertwined like crazy. Somebody eventually helps me up n then I feel the force of impact on my knee. Its gone, intense pain when I put pressure on it. Without giving it much thought I pull out the pain killer spray, apply a generous dose while riding. So now I knew I had lost a lot of lead. So I find some stragglers and stick to them. Riding gets very painful and each pedal takes a lot of effort but i don’t let up. I actually get into full speed trying to catch up to the second peloton, but I guess the guys must’ve attacked just after the crash. And before I realize I am at the dreaded khopoli ghat. I hit the wall, coz i had drained myself completely trying to pursue the peloton. The climb was pure torture for me, just after the first hairpin I fall off my bike holding my knee. More spray and I continue to climb the infamously steep Khopoli ghat. I am sticking to the wheel of this thin guy who seemed to be a good climber. Halfway up I get to see the familiar faces of my race supporters. Surprised to see Nachi there, as he had quit 15 minutes into the race, due to mechanical problems. 

Nachi waiting for me on the Khopoli climb, notice me clutching my wrecked knee

There was Sunil, Kedar Tokekar who had come all the way from Pune to provide me with water throughout the race. Nachya showers me in ice cold water, I put more spray, get full bottles of water all without stopping. Also get a bottle for my climbing mate as I think Id be needing to pace with him till the end of the race. Climbing the ghat was very very painful with the damaged knee. It had started to bleed a bit too. Dint give a damn about it, wanted to complete the race no matter what.

A little respite from the heat

 I reach the top and there are nice people offering water, so I get another bath and head towards lonavala. No more climbing now, the rest 60 km was all nice n flat. Being a sprinter this suited me, I soon left my climber mate behind to settle at a steady 36-37 kmph. The knee had just gone numb, no feeling that it was even there. I could see people giving up the race all around me. I keep going and pass a huge group at Talegaon. After the Khopoli climb I lose my supporters, they miss me going past them and had to complete the rest of the race without any water and other support.
Had to ride the rest almost alone. The winners must have had already wont the race by now. I arrived almost one hour later than the first guy (Omkar Jadhav), who did it in 4 hours n 12 minutes. But it was a battle won for me, my fight with myself for not quitting would help me become a better cyclist. Anyway I found Dad at the finish line, who took me home. Ate whatever lil I could. I was feeling like throwing up. And slept for 20 hours straight.  
The moral that I learnt that you cannot get race experience no matter how hard you train. Riding in a peloton is a whole new level of cycling. Road racing takes a lot of courage and is not for the faint hearted. You cannot win (or even complete) a race like this all alone without help from your fellow riders and supporters. I am determined to bank on this experience and come back stronger next year. 

Again I owe deep sense gratitude towards my fellow riders Nachiket Joshi, Sunil Chatekar and Kedar Tokekar for their support during the race. Also Kaushik Bhalerao for supporting on his motorbike.

Cheers