9th MTB Himalaya 2013: Day 3 - 6 Indian Army team members ride against odds to finish in top 10

Around 70 bikers started their day’s ride from the overnight camp at Dhomri, just 2 km from Narkanda, on Monday to find the winding single track amid evergreen lush green forests.

The overnight drizzling failed to dampen the spirits of the riders as they chased each other on the downhill trail to get past the sleepy villages bypassing the town of Nog. Today’s ride had maximum distance of downhill compared to the last three days.

While several riders struggled to balance their bikes downhill, our local boys from India Kiran, Gurman and Devender rode effortlessly.

Among women riders, Zoe Beesley from the UK and Laxmi Magar from Nepal clocked almost the same time as they were seen riding in tandem till the end of first stage late this afternoon. As the leading riders started their uphill ride after a 20-minute food joint break from Kharhan on the second stage of today’s race, rest of the bikers could hardly finish off the first stage.

Till last reports came in, World No. 9 Luis Leao Pinto of Portugal was leading today’s competition too. The defending champions in Team of Two category from Team Army, in last year’s race, Shishir Man Karki and Naresh Deb Burman are leading in their respective category this year as well.

The indomitable spirits of the Team Army were seen in the uphill ride from the food zone till Dhomri base camp as they rode past apple orchards, cherry gardens and almond fields without a stop. Team Army’s D.B. Pradhan, who came third at the end of 2nd day, was today also racing faster than most riders.

In a nutshell, the day simply belonged to the Army riders and rest of the pack just followed them.

Race highlights till first stage on Day 3:

1. Leading: Luis Leas Pinto (Portugal)

2. D B Pradhan riding close on the heels of Pereira

3. Team army represented by Naresh and Shishir leading in their category

4. Laxmi Magar leading in Women category

5. Luiz Canto Moniz leading the masters category