Jul 12, 2023
Chennai, July 12, 2023: HCL, a globally renowned conglomerate, announced the launch of HCL Cyclothon, its first cycling initiative in Chennai. Thiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development of Tamil Nadu was the Chief Guest at the event. The other important dignitaries who presided over the event included Dr. Atulya Misra, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu; Thiru J Meghanatha Reddy, Sports Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu; and Shri Sundar Mahalingam, President-Strategy at HCL Corporation.
ThiruUdhaynidhi Stalin, Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development of Tamil Nadu, said, “Tamil Nadu has a rich tradition of producing professional athletes in multiple sports. Our vision is to position ourselves as a global destination for sports by shoring up infrastructure and bringing world-class sporting events to the state. HCL Cyclothon is one such sporting initiative in this direction and we are happy to associate with HCL to conduct this event.”
| Activity | Timeline |
| Registrations open | July 12 to September 20, 2023 |
| Bib Expo | October 6-7, 2023 |
| Main Race Day | October 8, 2023 |
The first edition of the HCL Cyclothon which took place in Noida, Uttar Pradesh had more than 1300 registrations and witnessed participation of over 1000 cyclists. The event awarded prize money to the top 70 participants in the professional and amateur categories. With the upcoming HCL Cyclothon scheduled to take place in Chennai, HCL anticipates an equally enthusiastic turnout, fueled by the city’s thriving cycling culture.
Through this initiative, HCL intends to create a platform for professional cyclists to showcase their skills and inspire a new generation of riders in India. HCL’s vision is to increase awareness and interest around cycling not just as an exciting sport but as a life skill. Registrations are open from July 12 to September 20, 2023 and more details are available at www.hclcyclothon.com.
Shri Sundar Mahalingam, President – Strategy, HCL Corporation, said, “HCL’s core brand philosophy is Human Potential Multiplied which aims at amplifying the potential of not just individuals but communities and societies at large. After the success of HCL Cyclothon in Noida earlier this year, it was a logical next step to expand this initiative to Chennai keeping in mind HCL’s deep connection to the state.”
Shri Onkar Singh, Chairman, Cycling Federation of India and Secretary General at the Asian Cycling Federation in his video message for the event said, “Cycle Federation of India is thrilled to be a part of HCL Cyclothon in Chennai. This event presents a remarkable platform for cyclists across the nation to showcase their skills and passion for the sport. CFI’s mission is to direct, develop, regulate and control cycling sports in all forms in the country. Through this partnership with HCL, I believe that we will be able to achieve our mission to develop cycling as a sport and promote awareness to new audiences.”
The Chennai edition features a prize purse of total Rs 30 lakhs which comprises Rs. 15 lakhs for professionals and Rs. 15 lakhs for amateurs.
| Category | Professional | Amateur | ||
| Road Race | Road Race | MTB Road | ||
| Description | Only CFI licensed cyclists can participate in this category | This category is open for road bikes | This category is open for MTB (Mountain Bike) | |
| Age group | 18 to 35 years | 18-30
30-45 45+ |
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| Distance | 55 KM | 55 KM | 24 KM | |
| Awards | Winners will be the top 10 males and females each. | Top 3 states with fastest cyclists will be awarded. | Top 3 men and women cyclists each in the overall categories and within the age group from 18 to 30, 30to 45, and 45+ will be awarded. | |
Race Route: The race will begin at Mayajaal Multiplex, and follow the ECR Road to Kovalam before returning. There will be multiple loops based on different categories.
About HCL
Founded in 1976 as one of India’s original IT garage start-ups, HCL is a pioneer of modern computing with many firsts to its credit, including the introduction of the 8-bit microprocessor-based computer in 1978 well before its global peers. Today, the HCL enterprise has a presence across varied sectors that include technology, healthcare and talent management solutions and comprises three companies – HCL Infosystems, HCL Technologies and HCL Healthcare. The enterprise generates annual revenues of over US$12.6 billion with more than 225,944 employees operating across 60 countries. For further information, visit www.hcl.com.
On behalf of HCL:
Dr. Pooja Arora-pooja_sikka@hcl.com