Bicycle diaries: TN's Santhosh cycling to lift his village & sport

ANTHOSH Kumar M's journey so far is a quintessential tale of persistence and perseverance. Coming from a nondescript village in Tenkasi, the teenager has overcome a myriad of challenges to emerge as a cyclist with an aptitude for big things.

- ASHOK VENUGOPAL

Despite limited resources, Santhosh was the standout during the HCL Cyclothon—Chennai and Hyderabad 2024, having registered back-to-back wins in the amateur category (24km road).

What's more fascinating is that he is self-trained in the sport. From mud roads, to highways in his hometown, Santhosh has dedicated himself to the craft to come quite a distance.

"I'm physically fit. I practise on the highway. When I am in my hometown in Tenkasi, I usually practise on mud roads. Even if I don't find anyone, I practise alone. I try to practice on all terrains to be competitive, including hills, elevation in Theni, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, and mud roads in villages of Tenkasi," he said.