Devanshu Shivnani, 27
Entrepreneur & Cyclist
The sight of the New Delhi-Chandigarh National Highway from Devanshu Shivnani’s home in Pitampura in West Delhi set him on a tour de force that is ready to ride into record books. He covered the entire length of the Golden Quadrilateral in less than 20 days bettering the previous best of 24 days; a feat being tipped as a new entry into Guinness Book of World Records— quite an act by a Delhi boy.
Last month, he hopped on the saddle of his sports bicycle and hit the highway, pedalling along its length and breadth, taking the loops of 6,000 kilometres of national highways connecting India’s top four metropolitan cities like a pro. It was his daily routine to take his bicycle out on Delhi’s broad avenues. He believes that the capital’s roads are the best in the country.
On March 5, Shivnani began the trip of a lifetime with friends driving behind in a sports car. Donning his gear he began his travels along the Delhi-Mumbai National Highway, followed by the Mumbai-Chennai National Highway. And then came the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway.
The final leg of the trip was along the Kolkata-Delhi National Highway. His record was 400 kilometres in one day. This bicycle aficionado crisscrossed 36 cities in 13 states over 19 days and 22.5 hours to conquer the famed road network.
A team of New Zealanders had attempted the same feat in 2015, but had taken 24 days to complete the circuit. Shivnani is now completing the formalities for the eventual entry of his feat in the Guinness Book of World Records.
The 26-year-old rider thrives on a positive attitude and bursts of energy. He maintains that victory lies in challenging the “estimated” capacity of body and mind.
“The bigger the dare, the mind and body will rise in equal measure; but only if one is propelled by belief,” he says.
His triumph has been bittersweet; he wished his father had been around to see his achievement. Though he believes he is watching over him.