For the last one year, K. Arun Kumarasamy, a Puducherry-based cycling enthusiast had been testing his endurance by relentlessly biking four days a week covering a minimum of 150 to 200 km during the weekends.
After completing a Super Randonneur brevet series (200, 300, 400 and 600 km) hosted by Audax India in various cities, Mr. Kumarasamy has now successfully completed the Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP), a 1,200 km-long-distance cycling event in his maiden attempt in France on August 18 and 19. Kumarasamy completed the 80-hour-time limit in 79 hours and 17 minutes.
This year’s PBP event saw over 6,000 riders from across the globe competing in three different time limits of 80, 84 and 90 hours.
To qualify for PBP, the riders must have completed a Super Randonneur brevet series (200, 300, 400 and 600 km) organised by Audex Club Parisien in 2019.
Arun Kumarasamy, 36, hailing from P.S. Palayam in Puducherry is working as Lead Change Manager in IBM India Pvt. Ltd, Chennai. He started his cycling career in September 2017 and his first ride was with We are Chennai Cyclists Group (WCCG). He has, so far, completed 25 long distance events organised by Audex India.
“PBP is one of my dream events and I started my training in April 2018 under the guidance of Kandappa and was in very good shape. Unfortunately, I had a serious fall and fractured my collarbone. However, I recovered and participated in BRM (Brevets de Randonneurs Mondiaux) events to ensure my participation in the PBP,” Mr. Kumarasamy said.
He completed 613 km on the first day covering the distance in 34 hours and 38 minutes before resting for three hours along the check points along the route.
He covered the remaining distance in 79 hours and 17 minutes. Mr. Kumarasamy has, so far, completed 45,000 km including two rides over 1,000 km each covering them in 59 and 52 hours respectively.
Popular sport
“Randonneuring has now emerged as a popular sport across the country. Tamil Nadu and Puducherry also will soon see more number of cyclists taking to Randonneuring.
“My next target is to compete in the London Edinburgh London covering 1,500 kms in August 2021,” he added.