Meet Amit Samarth -The First Ever Asian To Complete Trans-Siberian Extreme Race
While the country is still sinking in Esow Alben’s victory, another Indian Cyclist Dr Amit Samarth brought home laurels.
Dr Amit Samarth, an endurance cycling athlete has become the first-ever Indian to complete the Red Bull Trans-Siberian Extreme race, a 9100-km race in Russia. Dr. Amit Samarth who hails from Nagpur, Maharashtra finished the bicycle race on Friday with these two words, “It’s done.”
Dr Amit reportedly took about 315 hours, 45 minutes and 26 seconds to complete the race. He finished fourth overall — only 6 minutes behind the race winner Pierre Bischoff from Germany.
Samarth has scripted history for India by becoming the first Asian to complete the race.
Last year, Dr Amit Samarth had participated in RAAM (Race Across America) where he cycled 5000 km and finished in 11 days 21 hours and 11 minutes to become the first Indian to complete it in the first attempt in the solo category. You can read his interview here.
After having finished the race, Samarth was recorded saying, “Trans-Siberian Extreme is for those who want to get pushed to their limits and beyond and test their mind and body. It is the endurance event on this planet and nothing gets tougher than this. The total 77,000 metres of elevation that the race covers is like climbing ten Mt Everest.”
Further, Samarth went on to describe the race by saying, “A monster in itself. It is almost double the distance of RAAM and after the 10th stage, all the remaining ones are between 600 km and 1300 km. It is mind bending and the last stage was very difficult as the entire 750 km was all hills which is very strenuous.”
Dr Amit Samarth, along with 5 other participants, started the race from Moscow on July 24th. During the race, the participants braved all odds that included the weather being cold, foggy, temperature extremes, the rains, rough terrain and of course the long distance.
Samarth was accompanied by his crew — Devnath Pillai and Chetan Thatte.
In the past, Dr Amit Samarth has also completed 4 Ironman events and is the Winner of Deccan Cliffhanger 2017.
The internet has been pouring in their heartfelt wishes and support for Samarth. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated Samarth on his achievement by tweeting,
“Many congratulations to Dr. Amit Samarth from Nagpur!
25 days
8 time zones
15 climatic zones
9100 km of cycling!
First Indian to complete Race Across America (RAAM) last year, now becomes first Asian to finish Trans-Siberian Extreme by-cycle race.
Maharashtra is proud of you!”
Indeed, we are so proud of Dr Amit Samarth! Such achievements by our fellow countrymen surely ignite hope for all those who love this sport.
