Solan: More than 200 cyclists from across the country gathered at The Lawrence School, Sanawar, on Sunday to compete in the sixth edition of the “Tour de Sanawar.” The annual cyclothon, organized by the school and its alumni association, The Old Sanawarian Society, drew participants from 16 different schools and over 20 cities, including Bangalore, Pune, and Guwahati.
The five-hour event, which began at 9:30 a.m., tested the riders on the school’s picturesque 139-acre campus. Cyclists navigated challenging routes ranging from 11 kilometers for junior categories to a 15-kilometer course with a 600-meter elevation gain for the elite riders. The track featured a mix of steep climbs, sharp turns, and technical descents. Event officials and marshalls from sponsors Hero Cycles and HASTPA managed safety along the route.
The first race was flagged off by the school’s Headmaster, Himmat Singh Dhillon. Major Sanjeev Sharma, former president of the alumni society, flagged off the Pro Elite race. A key highlight of the day was a “dare-devil” cycling stunt show performed by award-winning rider Prerak Kant from Chhattisgarh.
In the junior category (Class IX and below), Urmi Bhatt of The Lawrence School, Sanawar, won the girls’ race, while Anirudh Singh of Trinity International School won the boys’ event. In the senior category, Samaira Dhankar (Sanawar) and Punit Thakur (Stokes Memorial, Shimla) took first place in the girls’ and boys’ races, respectively.
Ayush Negi of SCOTT HASTPA won the elite category, Punya Dutta and Aarush Sharma won their respective amateur races, and Swastik from Dehradun was named the ‘Most Promising Cyclist.’
In his closing remarks, Headmaster Himmat Singh Dhillon emphasized the event’s broader purpose. “The youth of India must refrain from drugs and substance abuse,” he said, “and increasingly engage in healthy pursuits such as cycling.”
