We are inaugurating the 1st edition of the ‘BSA Hercules Chennai Cycling '12’, today. This will be a mass mobilizing cycling event, the biggest that the state of Tamil Nadu has seen.

The Government of Tamil Nadu, The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT), along with CRX Sports and T.I.Cycles of India have taken steps to organize this pioneering event, to promote Sports and Healthy living amongst the people of Chennai. Cycling being a great form of exercise, sport and a mode of transport that is accessible to people from all spheres of life. In this regard, the event will reach out to the young and old alike, and strike a chord in their hearts to rekindle their love for cycling. I am extremely happy to be a part of this important sporting occasion.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is positive that Sport and Healthy living will help in developing the youth of the state, and will result in building character in each individual. A mass mobilizing Cycling event such as this, is one of the best ways to spread this message. Sport is the best teacher for life, as it prepares individuals to deal with success and failure, in the same stride.

World over to minimize the ever increasing Global warming, cycling has become the best answer. Cycling is the greenest and most sustainable mode of transport. This cycling event will help instill a sense of great consciousness along with sports for a healthy living.

The event will be held on one of the most beautiful landmarks of the city of Chennai in Kamarajar Salai (Marina Beach Road). At the event an 8km stretch will be cordoned off from traffic between 4am to 10:30 am on the 26th of February (Sunday), to ensure that over 4000 cyclists from all walks of life have an experience of a lifetime.

The event will have 2 legs; the 1st part will have a professional race, which will be conducted under the aegis of the Cycling federation of India (CFI) and the Tamil Nadu Cycling Association. This part of the event will see over 150 Professional Women and Men cyclists, race to the finish.

-Women’s National Race (32kms)
-Men’s National Race (56kms)

The second leg of the event will see over 4000 cyclists participate in various categories in a non-competitive ride. The categories are as follows:

-Kids Ride (8 to 15yrs) – 4kms
-Green Ride (15 yrs and above) – 8kms
-Ride for a Cause (15 yrs and above) – 8kms
-Amateur Ride (18yrs and above) – 16kms

I am grateful to the organizers of the ‘BSA Hercules Chennai Cycling ’12 ‘ for bringing an event, such as this, to Chennai. This will help to create an atmosphere for sport and healthy living amongst the beloved citizens of our city and state. This is a start to a growing culture of sports amongst the youth, events such as this across sporting disciplines, will help nurture talent and opportunities for the aspiring sports enthusiasts.

All of the above would not have been possible without the support of the Tamil Nadu Government. We are indebted to the support received from Puratchi Thalaivi Dr. Selvi J.Jayalalithaa, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

With the good wishes of our Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, I would like to declare this event open and invite active participation from the various press bodies that have helped to develop sports over the years.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank one and all who have gathered here to ensure this kind of an event a grand success.

Thank You

Sd/-
G.A Rajkumar I.A.S,
Additional Chief Secretary to Government
Youth Welfare and Sports Development department
Government of Tamil Nadu
Chennai

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About Chennai Cycling

Chennai Cycling is a mass mobilizing cycling event aimed at increasing awareness amongst the public about healthy living, sport and sustainable means of transport. The event will have a professional leg with the top cyclists in India. The amateur leg will see nearly 6000 cyclists from all walks of life participate to show their support for the various causes.

Mr. L Ramkumar, Managing Director, TI Cycles, Murugappa Group commented on Chennai Cycling 2012 saying ‘TI Cycles has always stood by fun, fitness and freedom by offering a range of bicycles and e scooters. By coming together with CRX Sports we are looking at close to 5000 participants. ‘BSA HERCULES Chennai Cycling ‘12’ is going to be one of the biggest every cycling events conducted in South India and it feels great to support an institution like UWC”.

‘BSA HERCULES Chennai Cycling 2012’ is driven by a cause. Our objective is to build ‘India’s largest Cycling and Green Movement’. Apart from promoting healthy living and green transport, our other mission is to ‘Save the Coastline’. By helping UWC we complete our goal by ensuring support for the under privileged/physically challenged.

Mr. Lakshmi Narayanan, Founding member of United Way of Chennai and Vice Chairman of Cognizant said, “Garnering support for a noble cause through such an event will definitely reach the people. Corporate and IT employees look for options like these to stay fit and calm. By being part of the cycling event, not only are the participants going to benefit, but also number of other children with various disorders.’

Speaking about BSA HERCULES Chennai Cycling 2012, Managing Director of CRX Sports, Mr. Rohit Kuttappa, said, “The motive behind organizing a sporting event like this is to bring about awareness on our depleting resources, importance of healthy living and mass participation in Sports. These can be referred to as the needs of the hour. By conducting a cycling event of this scale, we hope to promote the overall well being of individuals as well as for our environment”.

Also he added, “Going green is the need of the hour. Cycling is perhaps the best mode of green transport. This event will help put Chennai on the Sporting map of India, and in the future we are looking at participation from riders across the world. ‘BSA HERCULES Chennai Cycling 2012’ will kick start the ‘India Cycling’ campaign, which will be carried out to establish a sustained effort to promote cycling as a sport and as a form recreation and transport”.

Leading F1 Racer, Karun Chandhok who is the brand ambassador of TI Cycles commented, “Over the years TI Cycles and its brand, BSA, Hercules & Montra have been promoting cycling and I am glad they are organizing this event in Chennai. Cycling has to go a long way to become a sport in the country and professional races being conducted on 26th is one of way of promoting the nascent sport. This is going to become a calendar event and I hope Chennaites come in large numbers to participate and take up cycling”.

Mark your calendars, head to Kamaraj Salai on the 26th of February 2012 and cycle your way to a better life.

For online registration please log on to www.bsachennaicycling.com
Offline registrations can be done at all ‘BSA Hercules’ and ‘Cafe Coffee Day’ stores across the city.

About TI Cycles of India

TI Cycles was established by the Murugappa Group in the year 1949, in collaboration with Tube Investments, UK. The first Hercules bicycle rolled out in 1951. Three more brands were added to the portfolio - Phillips in 1959, BSA in 1964 and Montra in 2011. TI Cycles has practically created and perfected every new cycle category in the country. With a turnover of 1,121 cr and a year-on-year growth of 18 percent TI Cycles is a market leader in the ‘specials’ segment of cycles. TI Cycles has the capacity to manufacture 5.4 million cycles a year at 3 plants across India - Chennai in the South, Nasik in the West and Noida in the North. Standing for the core promise of fun, fitness and freedom, TI Cycles offers consumers a range of bicycles, e-scooters, fitness equipment and infant mobility solutions. With the changing retail environment, TI Cycles has introduced BSA Hercules exclusive stores, which have revolutionized the bicycle outlet in India.

About United Way of Chennai (UWC)

United Way of Chennai (UWC), is a registered society that aims to address long term needs of the community by promoting sustained solutions, encouraging voluntary charitable service and volunteerism, thereby improving the overall quality of life. The board of UWC comprises of senior industrialists, entrepreneurs, highly placed academicians and business leaders. They work with projects that help improve the capacities and skills of the under privileged / physically challenged, thereby enhancing their overall quality of life. They support children residing in government-run juvenile homes to improve their schooling and equip them with skills that enable employment. UWC also provides support to disabled children with autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, aphasia and hearing impairment.

About CRX Sports

CRX Sports is a sports event management company headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The company’s core area of expertise is in conceptualizing and conducting mass mobilizing cycling events. CRX have conducted over 40 events of varying scale, across the country. The team at CRX Sports comprises of individuals with experience and passion in the sports industry, this driving force keeps the company constantly innovating towards pioneering Sports event properties. The Services of CRX Sports span from Conceptualizing of Sports event properties, Sports marketing and sports event management.