56-year-old Indian Army Man cycles 1,200 km in France cycling event

Lieutenant Army General Anil Puri has become the first serving Army General to complete France’s oldest cycling event, 1,200-km Paris-Brest-Paris circuit. Puri, 56, finished off the circuit on August 23 by cycling non-stop for 90 hours on Thursday, on the outskirts of Paris to the Brest military port on France’s western tip and back. He was one of the six men selected to participate in the oldest cycling event in August this year. A total of 6,500 participants gathered at the event from as many as 60 countries, with about 367 participants from India. Of them, only about 80 participants could successfully complete the trek. Over 31,125 riders in total managed to complete Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur ever since the cycling event kickstarted in 1931. 

The event was filled with exciting moments for the 56-year-old Lt. General Puri to cherish, the Indian Express has reported. "The human mind is a very beautiful machine that needs to be kept excited. This excitement comes from change. We need to change our interests and hobbies in the physical and electronic domains every three to five years in order to stimulate our minds. The whole experience of the event was humbling because it teaches you that nature can never be conquered," he said while speaking to IANS from Paris after completing the circuit. 

The participants, having exposed to the enervating nature of the cycling event, had to put up with extreme weather temperatures during the ride. Besides, the participants were required to climb around 31,000 feet in completing the entire circuit from Rambouillet. Lt. General Puri, in order to meet the challenges during the ride, has been conditioning himself, physically as well as mentally, besides following a strict diet regime. “As Indians, we don't get to cycle on hilly terrain. Our cities are mostly flat. Hence, we get tired easily because of poor muscular development," Lt Gen Puri added.