As the team convoys left the town of Nanded, Pune, at the end of Stage 2 of the Pune Grand Tour, the riders waved from their vehicles to the crowd of locals gathered along the route. Find crowds, constant at the start and end points of the race in the The first three days and even in many rural areas.delighted the international cyclists who participated in the race. Riders were forced into a constant demand for selfies, and some even had to be escorted out of the crowd by bouncers.
Estonian cyclist Kannimäe Taav of the Quick Pro Team said: “I have never seen so many people on the side of the road.” He has been to a few world championships and events in countries like Switzerland, Belgium and Poland, but the crowd in India was one of a kind.
Kannimäe Taav from the Quick Pro team. (Express photo by Soham Shah)
“The first and last 10 kilometers here were crazy. My eardrums hurt a little, but it should be that way. When I first came to India, you know there are a thousand times less people in Estonia, so I was a little afraid. Pune The city itself has many times more inhabitants than Estonia combined. So I was wondering how is it possible to avoid people? But that’s how it was, you showed it,” he added.
Patrice Robustelli, sporting director of the Thailand-based Grant Thornton cycling team, said the crowd was similar to those seen in Rwanda, a country where the sport of cycling is big.
He said: “If there is a crowd like this in the first edition, when people become more conscious in Pune and in India (it can be like Rwanda). It is wonderful to race here. Just like when playing cricket, it is more exciting for the players to race. And not only in the last few kilometres, but from every village people came out to cheer the cyclists.”
Indian food is a big hit
The public was not the only thing that fascinated the international teams. Taav exclaimed, “All the spices! Our own food is not that tasty. When I return home I think I should buy some spices here.” Whatever Indian dish Taav chose from the hotel buffet was delicious, and he especially loved the naans, which he ate whole “loads” of.
Stephan Van Der Swan, owner of the Pro Cycling Stats team and the popular cycling statistics website of the same name, had a similar experience with food. “I love all the masalas. I would love to learn how to cook them myself. We are at the Hilton hotel and they make amazing food. Tikka masala is one of my favorites,” he said.
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Swan was also surprised by the enthusiasm of the crowd, considering the fact that cycling racing as a sport is not common in the country.
Carl Jolly, from the Schils-Doltcini team, said he really likes eating daal. “I love daals and I also have them in Indian places in England. But it’s obviously not the same as here.”
Kurtas and sarees
Riders wore kurtas with colorful ethnic jackets at the opening ceremony of the Grand Tour on January 17. Taav said that although he had received a smaller size, he loved the way it looked and will proudly take it back to Estonia and give it a place in his wardrobe. The same was true for Swan, who said he loved the colors of India.
Meanwhile, Swan’s wife Marijke Alois Van Goethem, also part of the team’s staff, bought four saris in Pune. “They taught me how to use it, but I’ll need more help,” he admits with a laugh.
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