Beyond Limits An inspiring true story of Indian Seafarer in Paris

Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) is a historic 1200kilometer cycling event that has been held since 1891, organized by the Audax Club Parisien. It occurs every four years and is one of the world's oldest open-road cycling competitions

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The race begins in Paris, travels to Brest on the Atlantic coast, and returns to Paris, testing participants' endurance and cycling prowess.

In its early years, cycling was a novel and controversial concept, but PBP quickly became a daring challenge that captured public attention. The inaugural race featured over 400 riders, with only 206 embarking on the gruelling journey. The victor completed the course in under 72 sleepless hours!

PBP continued intermittently through the early 20th century, attracting top endurance racers. Paid pacers were allowed to assist riders during this period. 

A significant change occurred in 1931 when a parallel 1200-kilometer brevet for amateur riders was introduced alongside the professional race, marking the beginning of randonneuring at PBP. To qualify for the amateur event, riders had to complete a 300-kilometer brevet. The distinction between professional and amateur races persisted until 1951 when PBP became solely amateur.

The post-World War II era witnessed a surge in PBP's popularity, with increasing participation opening doors for more international involvement.

In the late 20th century, PBP underwent significant changes, including switching to a four-year interval and adopting a safer route to accommodate growing motorized traffic. The event's format evolved to prioritize camaraderie among participants rather than competition.

The 1991 Centennial PBP was a milestone, leading to improved relations between randonneur and audax clubs. The start location was moved to St. Quentin-enYvelines to reduce congestion in Paris.

Despite rule changes, such as dropping the quirement for fenders and prohibiting advertising on clothing, PBP remains prestigious in long-distance cycling.