The first stretch was comparatively pleasant because the rains had ceased and also because the upcoming hiking and biking session was bound to be very tough. After all, some bikes weighed 21 kgs and these riders had to carry their bikes on their shoulders when it was not possible to ride them – which was almost all of the 12 kilometres. By the end of this stretch, we, the photographers, were dead tired. But the riders were much better off than us.