Bhubaneswar: Lt Gen Anil Puri, who became the first serving general to complete France’s oldest cycling event, the gruelling 1,200-km Paris-Brest-Paris circuit in 2019, at the age of 56, is ready for another cycling adventure. He did one in May this year from Udhampur to Leh, post his superannuation from the military this February.
This time, he aspires to hit the east coast. Accompanying him are his wife, eye surgeon, Dr Sonya Puri, and other cycling enthusiasts from across the country.
They will start from Bhubaneswar on December 23, visit Chilka, travel to Gopalpur, Srikakulam, Vizag, Yanam, Machlipatnam, Ongole, Nellore, Chennai, Mahabalipuram and finish at Pondicherry having travelled a distance of 1500 km. “We will stop after every 100 to 190 km for a restful night,” he said in a press statement.
“We hope to catch the sunrise and sunset from our cycle saddle and enjoy the peace, serenity and artistry that nature offers. It will allow us to interact with local people from various sectors, besides my brothers and sisters in arms who have served the nation. Other like-minded people like Mukesh Rout from Bhubaneswar, Vikas, Sudhakar and my old-time cycling buddy Parikshit from Vizag. From Chennai to add zing we will be joined by Ajai Singh, Ramesh and Subramani. These cycle enthusiasts are joining from various points and would ride along for certain distances,” he added.
Randonneuring clubs of Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Vizag, and Chennai have been incorporated to give a wider interactive platform. Two septuagenarians, PV Rao and Sundar Rajan are joining the group from Vizag and Chennai.
By the time they complete this incredible feat, they will be ready to ring in 2024.
