Manipur's John Gwite rides into global league with 'Race Around Poland' milestone

Time of India

10-07-2025

NEW DELHI: At a time when his home state of Manipur is caught in the grip of turmoil and uncertainty, high endurance ultra-cyclist John Khammuanlal Gwite has shown extraordinary mental strength and resilience, channelling his energy into a historic performance in Poland.
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With his 237-hour finish in the 'Race Around Poland', Gwite has joined an elite club of ultra-cycling stalwarts such as Christoph Strasser and Marko Baloh, proving that Indian riders can match the best in this punishing sport. He became the first Indian to complete the event in under 10 days, bettering the previous Indian mark of 274 hours.
Two years ago, Gwite completed the legendary 'Paris-Brest-Paris' in an impressive 59 hours, and now, harbours the desire to participate in the 'Race Across America (Raam)', a 3,000-mile ultra-endurance cycling race across the US.
Ultra-cycling is a solo port with no team cars, external nutrition or mechanical support, and the Poland race is widely regarded as one of Europe's most unforgiving endurance tests — an unsupported ride spanning 3,600 km and an elevation gain of over 31,000 metres.
The 2025 edition of the race doubled as the World Ultra Cycling Championships, drawing over 60 elite riders from across the globe.
'The climbs were brutal with over 30,000 metres of elevation, and we were not prepared for the chilling cold at night,' Gwite recalled.
'I wasn't carrying any winter gear, and in the late-night hours, it was the toughest. I had to modify my strategy, get polythene from local shops and make it into a vest and knee warmers. That small improvisation probably saved my ride,' he said.
For the 37-year-old from Churachandpur, this finish is the culmination of years of quiet, gruelling preparation. In 2023, Gwite finished 'Paris-Brest-Paris', called the Olympics of ultra-cycling, covering 1,229 km in just 59 hours to secure a global rank of 248 among nearly 9,000 cyclists.
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A year earlier, he completed the 'London-Edinburgh-London' ride — 1,535 km in 110 hours — and cemented his credentials as one of India's most accomplished ultra-distance cyclists.
Over the past decade, Gwite has amassed 19 Super Randonneur titles and tackled some of the harshest rides across the subcontinent, including the 'Trans-Himalaya 1200' and the 'Wagah-to-Kanyakumari' expeditions. 'End of the day, it's about how one prioritises life,' he said.
'It doesn't help thinking constantly of issues back home, but to keep oneself healthy is the best way to help my society and country.'
Gwite's achievement in Poland also serves as a qualifier for the iconic Raam, often considered the pinnacle of ultra-cycling. But the challenge ahead is as much logistical as physical. 'The 'Race Across America' is super expensive,' he admitted. 'Unless you get proper support, it's difficult to do it on your own.
I have qualified and the idea is to definitely go. But this is not a Rs 10 or Rs 20 lakh budget. You need a proper crew including a doctor, nurse, and physiotherapist.
For Raam, we can't randomly pick people; we need a team that understands the race,' Gwite said.
For a sport largely invisible in India's cricket-dominated landscape, his solitary rides have become quiet symbols of grit and possibility, showing what determination can achieve even in the face of overwhelming odds.