Shimla, Oct. 23 -- The 13th edition of the MTB Shimla mountain biking event began in Shimla on Friday, with Himachal Pradesh Chief Secretary K.K. Pant flagging off 72 cyclists representing 20 cities across the country.

The multi-day event aims to promote mountain biking, adventure tourism and environmentally responsible travel in Himachal Pradesh, while encouraging children and young people to embrace outdoor sports, fitness and healthy lifestyles.

The event opened with a 16-km heritage ride through Shimla, followed by a challenging mountain biking course spread over the next two days. The competitive route covers approximately 130 km, including 110 km of timed racing, testing riders' endurance, technical skills and ability to negotiate...