Learning on the job: Pune-based ultra cyclist on how he won the Dunes Ultra race
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. It’s been a remarkable transformation for Varun Venkit. Until three years ago, he was a regular volunteer at ultra cycling races around the country, marvelling at the efforts of the competing riders.
Then last year on 28 December, he picked up his first win at the inaugural edition of the Dunes Ultra, finishing the 1,350km race in a time of 66 hours 30 minutes. Though Venkit had been cycling for over a decade, most of it was of a recreational nature, around his hometown of Pune. The longest ride had taken him down the coast to Goa, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that he considered a systematic training regime to compete in cycling races.
His inspiration was his current coach, and one of India’s top ultra cyclists, Kabir Rachure. “In 2017, I had seen Kabir put up a good fight during a race where I was volunteering. Four years later when I saw him again, his progress was incredible.
The covid-19 pandemic had taken a toll on my fitness, so I thought it was the right time to take up ultra cycling," Venkit, 38, recalls. He soon started training under Rachure, the early days exposing him to the unpredictable nature of the sport. A nasty fall on a downhill during a training ride led to a minor concussion that shook him up.
His first race, the 643km Deccan Cliffhanger in 2022, was all about survival after he experienced severe cramping, a result of over-hydrating before the start. But most of 2023 was dedicated to learning, showing up each day and putting in the work. He rode in the summer months to gear up for the heat, and in peak monsoon to get the experience of cycling in rain.
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