Mangaluru: While Mangaluru is gearing up to witness first of its kind cycling event on the 28th of February 2016, being organised by Mangalore Cycling Club (MACC), it’s time to have sneak into the world of cycling and the events like BREVETs. Brevets (pronounced brah-VAY) are not races, although riders seek to improve their personal best times. For many, the goal is simply to finish and to go farther than they have before.
At the end of 19th century, when cycling tours were being organised in Italy and France, one gentleman Henri Desgrange, founder of the Tour de France, founded Audax France and conferred on the Audax Club Parisien, created on November 30, 1904, the authority to certify brevets ridden under Audax rules in France. At that time, only the 200 km distance was considered to be a Brevet, the completion of which entitled a cyclist to be designated “Audax”.
Today, the Audax Club Parisien is one of the largest cycling clubs in Paris and in France. Since 1976, Brevets certified by the A.C.P. have been ridden in countries outside of France. These are known as the Brevets des Randonneurs Mondiaux. BREVETS DE RANDONNEUR MONDIAUX (BRMs) are rides of fixed distances that are to be completed within specified time limits, having successfully passed through pre-determined time controls. 200 Km – 13.5 Hrs | 300 Km – 20 Hrs | 400 Km – 27 Hrs | 600 Km – 40 Hrs | 1000 Km – 75 Hrs | 1200 Km – 90 Hrs | Fleche – 24 Hrs BRMs worldwide are approved and governed by Audax Club Parisien (ACP).
All Brevets are conducted in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of ACP. The body that has the sole authority for conducting and overseeing all Brevets de Randonneurs Mondiaux (BRMs) and Audax events in India is Audax India Randonneurs (AIR). BRM – Brevets de Randonneurs Mondiaux and Les Randonneurs Mondiaux Events offered by AIR in India. It’s a misconception that BREVETs are meant for professionals, rather it’s one such event designed for ordinary riders like each of us with passion to perform and enjoy, where we aim to finish the course within specified time limits. The recognition is equal regardless of finishing order! Each rider, who finishes the event within the cutoff time is awarded with a certificate and a medal directly from ACP. Moreover the rider will get a step closer to become a Super Randonneure and an opportunity to take part in one of the oldest and most coveted cycling event in the world, the Paris Brest Paris event.
The bouquet of MACC BREVET 2016 calendar includes flat beach roads extending more than 60 km of beach stretch, the clean and rolling roads of Mangaluru, the calm forests, enjoying the trickle of rain drops during the monsoon season and the challenging but doable climbs of Western Ghats.
28-Feb-16: KARAVALI Brevet 200 km
24-Apr-16: GHAT CLASSIC Brevet 200 km
22-May-16: NETRAVATHI Brevet 200 km
10-Jul-16: MONSOON Brevet 200 km
25-Sep-16: WESTERN GHAT LOOP Brevet 200 km
22-Oct-16: NAMMA KUDLA Brevet 300 km
Those who intend to participate and have not registered with Audax India yet, please do so today itself. It takes 3 days to process the registration, so do hurry. The link to register is http://www.audaxindia.org/event-e-860.
MACC welcomes every one to participate in the event either by riding, volunteering or just by cheering the riders along the route, photographers, videographers and writers / bloggers are welcome to document this event in their own artistic way.
For more details you can contact MACC members: Sarvesh Samaga- 8884454596; Anil Shet- 9844001251
