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Manipur cyclist John Gwite completes Paris-Brest-Paris 1,200km cycling challenge in 59 hours | India News
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NEW DELHI: It’s a story of creating opportunity out of adversity. Confined to home during the Covid-19 lockdown, a resident of Vasant Kunj, Delhi, John Khammuanlal Gwite took to cycling to break the sedentary lifestyle in 2020. Cut to August 2023, Gwite is not just a proud finisher of the Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) of endurance cycling challenge, but also secured the impressive global ranking at 248 out of the 8,900 cyclists and among the top two of the 290 Indian participants by completing the circuit in 59 hours.
A native of Churachandpur, Manipur recently in the news for unrest and violence between the ethnic groups – Kuki and Meitei, Gwite undertook this epic journey, also referred to by many as the ‘Olympics of ultra-cycling’ which is organised once every four years and completed the arduous 1,200km course in 59 hours.
A happy cyclist, Gwite sharing his PBP experience said, “I have participated at PBP for the first time. This is a dream event for every cyclist’s dream, to do this ride. I was pretty confident and trained hard and had dedicated time and energy. I was expecting to be the first among the Indians, but due to a technical fault I couldn’t ride in the high gear. Otherwise I would have done better.”
Now a cycling pro, Gwite works with a consulting firm. On his long distance endurance cycling journey he said, “I took to cycling during the Covid lockdown. Confined to home, I was feeling bored and therefore took to cycling to get some fresh air as well as exercise. Apart from that I continued my regular workout, which helped me keep fit.” What set Gwite apart is that he embarked on this transformative journey in his forties.
Preceding the final summit – PBP – Gwite did the London-Edinburgh-London (LEL), an ultra-endurance ride spanning 1,500 kilometers between London and Edinburgh, in 110 hours out of 125 hours) in 2022, an experience which prepared him for the PBP challenge.
Back home, Gwite has done it all – whether the gruelling climbs of Devbhoomi 1000 BRM, the unpredictable weather of Kumaon’s hills, or the relentless CKB 2022.
A native of Churachandpur, Manipur recently in the news for unrest and violence between the ethnic groups – Kuki and Meitei, Gwite undertook this epic journey, also referred to by many as the ‘Olympics of ultra-cycling’ which is organised once every four years and completed the arduous 1,200km course in 59 hours.
A happy cyclist, Gwite sharing his PBP experience said, “I have participated at PBP for the first time. This is a dream event for every cyclist’s dream, to do this ride. I was pretty confident and trained hard and had dedicated time and energy. I was expecting to be the first among the Indians, but due to a technical fault I couldn’t ride in the high gear. Otherwise I would have done better.”
Now a cycling pro, Gwite works with a consulting firm. On his long distance endurance cycling journey he said, “I took to cycling during the Covid lockdown. Confined to home, I was feeling bored and therefore took to cycling to get some fresh air as well as exercise. Apart from that I continued my regular workout, which helped me keep fit.” What set Gwite apart is that he embarked on this transformative journey in his forties.
Preceding the final summit – PBP – Gwite did the London-Edinburgh-London (LEL), an ultra-endurance ride spanning 1,500 kilometers between London and Edinburgh, in 110 hours out of 125 hours) in 2022, an experience which prepared him for the PBP challenge.
Back home, Gwite has done it all – whether the gruelling climbs of Devbhoomi 1000 BRM, the unpredictable weather of Kumaon’s hills, or the relentless CKB 2022.
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