The Cycling Federation of India has partnered with Vedanta Limited to launch the first edition of the Tour de Thar, a new international standard endurance race that will introduce India to competitive desert cycling.
The event will be held on 23 November 2025 on the Amritsar–Jamnagar Expressway near Bikaner, signalling a major expansion of India’s national road cycling footprint.
The race will unfold on the Norangdesar to Deshnok corridor of the expressway, a stretch selected for its open desert terrain, controlled access, and ability to support high-performance racing. More than 2,500 riders are expected to participate across three formats: a 300-kilometre team event, a 200-kilometre solo challenge, and a 100-kilometre elite and amateur race. All participants must be at least 16 years old, with the federation enforcing strict safety, technical, and medical protocols to ensure professional race standards.
The 300-kilometre team race will operate under a four-rider format, with aggregate timing based on the first three finishers. The 200-kilometre solo category features a 9-hour 30-minute cutoff, while the 100-kilometre event will be split between elite and amateur start groups. Aid stations, medical units, mechanical support and tightly regulated race access are being deployed to match international race control norms.
Vedanta’s title sponsorship embeds its Cycle For Zero Hunger initiative into the race, translating total kilometres ridden into nutrition support for children across Nand Ghar centres. The event is also integrated into the NaMo Fit India Cycle Clubs programme, strengthening the government’s push to widen organised cycling participation nationwide. A sustainability and climate conference will run in parallel, underscoring the event’s broader social and environmental agenda.
The launch was attended by Union ministers Arjun Ram Meghwal and Mansukh Mandaviya, reinforcing central government backing for endurance sport, adventure tourism and cycling infrastructure. Cultural showcases, including local music, crafts and spectator zones, will sit alongside the competition to position Tour de Thar as both a sporting and regional tourism property.
For the Cycling Federation of India, Tour de Thar reflects a strategic push beyond velodrome and mass participation events into high-endurance formats. Vedanta deepens its sports investment portfolio with this partnership, adding to a slate that already includes title sponsorship of the Delhi Half Marathon, co-sponsorship of the Bengaluru Open 2025 and ownership of Vedanta Kalinga Lancers in the Hockey India League (HIL).
Tour de Thar is expected to elevate Rajasthan’s desert belt as a new endurance racing hub and create the framework for long-term expansion of India’s competitive road cycling ecosystem.
