Cycling sees hope of sporting acclaim in Goa

For 15-year-old Ashwel Fernandes, cycling was a way to connect with his family in Loutolim, and this gave rise to his passion for the sport. “My mother would take us out cycling in Loutolim and around so we could be one with nature, connect with each other and also remain fit,” says Ashwel, who looks at his mother and shares a smile.

Over the years, coaching and life experiences motivated Ashwel to take up cycling as a sport. His passion has resulted in his securing an impressive 7th place in the National Road Cycling Championship, which was held on December 7th to 10th, 2024, in Puri, Odisha. With him were his team mates - Jewel Viegas in the elite team and Angie Fernandes in the women's category. Jewel and Angie too have been cycling since childhood, and their fondness for cycling turned their passion into competition. They told Gomantak Times Digital about their experiences and fun times cycling.

COWS NEARLY PUT A DAMPER ON A FUN EXPERIENCE

Though the weather was pleasant at Puri, the only road block was the stray cattle. Jewel remembers a scene where there was a pile up at the event when supposedly a cow came in the middle of the track.

“The weather was great, but we had to be very careful of the cattle on the road. On the day we arrived, we made it to the tracks to make sure we knew the turns and had a feel of the place before the race,” says Jewel, who came in the 12th position in the Men's Elite section.

For Angie, this was her third national game. Prior to this event, she had won the gold medal at Khelo India U16 in September 2024. “Due to this, I was a bit relaxed for the championship at Puri,” says Angie who finished 5th in the National Cycling Championship.

However, what worried her was getting knocked off by stray cattle crossing the track. “I had to be vigilant to take all measures to avoid them. I did encounter a stray cow on the road and had to slow down instantly,” she says.

AI TO THE RESCUE

Though they are trained by coaches, Jewel likes to take assistance from Artificial Intelligence (AI). He says, the power of AI needs to be explored. “If you feed into the system about the type of workout you need. It will give you a routine. But you need to mention everything, for instance, if you have had a fall, or if you are tired, among other things,” says Jewel.

However, Ashwel has a trainer based out of Goa. “He tracks my progress through an app which calculates my heartbeat, my stamina and even my power. So accordingly, he gives me the workout now,” says Ashwel. He starts his cycling practice after school hours. “I freshen up, head out for my rides and complete the duration instructed by the coach. During my exams, I ask my coach to decrease the duration,” says Ashwel, who eats only home-cooked meals like kanji, tizaan and daal-rice.

AN EXPENSIVE SPORT
The cycles that these three rode in the competition were all above the range of 4 lakhs each.

“This is truly a very expensive sport. When we fall or get hit in a crash, the first thing we look at is our bikes and check if the bike is okay. Each tyre costs nearly a lakh or so, and we have to be extremely careful about it,” says Jewel, who is blessed to have friends who contributed and got him his first race cycle.

It’s not just the bikes that cost a fortune, it’s also the gear that adds to the sport. The shoes, jerseys and even pedals – they all incur huge expense, which is why there needs to be government assistance made available.  

“The cycling community in Goa is gradually and steadily increasing, and there is a need to have the kind of infrastructure cyclists need,” says Adeline Fernandes, mother and mentor of Ashwel. She is also a cyclist who rides across the country.

 BALANCING ACT

Angie, who represented Goa at the nationals, says it was a top priority for her this year while also keeping a tab on her class 10 board exams.

“Planning my classes, tuitions and training is a meticulous job, so that my preparation for both nationals and board exams was on track,” says Angie, who believes that she wouldn’t be able to do it without the support of her parents, family and her coach.

It’s not just about prioritising cycling but also sacrificing much to reach their current position.

“Balancing relationships and training and racing schedules has been a challenge. As a cyclist, you’ve likely prioritised hours in the saddle over family time or social events. Partying with my friends also became hard. Competitive cycling isn’t cheap, and you’ve likely invested heavily in your equipment, nutrition and race travel, sometimes at the expense of other financial goals. Luckily some of them are taken care of by the team and my mentor.”

The three cyclists hope that the Government of Goa will financially support the sport’s growth and assist cyclists in representing the State at major championships.