Delhi to Mumbai in 31-hrs, on bicycle

Former professional cycling champion Vinod Punamiya reached Mumbai, claiming to have completed the distance of 1485 km from India Gate, Delhi to Gateway of India in 31 hours on bicycle.

Former professional cycling champion Vinod Punamiya reached Mumbai, claiming to have completed the distance of 1485 km from India Gate, Delhi to Gateway of India here in 31 hours on bicycle.

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The 53-year-old Punamiya set off from Delhi at 7 am on Saturday and reached the Gateway of India at 2 pm, delayed by an hour thanks to heavy traffic from Andheri (in Mumbai) onwards, he said.

His aim was to make it in 30 hours. "We reached Mumbai in 30 hours but from Andheri to Gateway of India we got stuck in traffic and wasted an hour," said Punamiya.

After his latest feat, a tired but elated Punamiya said, "I am very happy and proud to have completed the distance in 31 hrs.

I had been practising for a whole year, doing daily runs of 500 to 600 km along with Sanjay Borde, another former cyclist." Elaborating on his cycling journey, Punamiya said he used an Italian cycle 'Organ', for this event.

He also said he got cramps in his leg when he reached Udaipur, but pushed ahead after strapping up the leg. "With only 100 km remaining to complete, I thought I will not be able to do it, because I was peddling with only one leg, but I was determined to go on and managed to complete the distance," said Punamiya.