Nepali cyclist Usha Khanal has made her nation proud by finishing third in the prestigious BC Bike Race, one of the world’s most recognized mountain biking competitions held in British Columbia, Canada.
The race, which began on June 30, consisted of seven intense stages covering a total distance of 220 kilometers. Competing in the women’s category, Usha Khanal raced against 18 other participants and completed the event in 14 hours, 51 minutes, and 27 seconds, securing the third spot on the podium.
Canadian cyclist Sandra Walter of the cabtech Racing Team claimed first place with a time of 12 hours, 25 minutes, and 45 seconds. She was followed by Katerina Nash of the Clif Family Foundation, who came in second with 12 hours, 58 minutes, and 21 seconds.
Usha Khanal shared her excitement over the achievement, saying, “This was my first time participating in such a big race. The result was better than I expected. I realized I can compete internationally. We have the talent too.”
This accomplishment is especially meaningful for Usha, who had previously tried to enter this global race multiple times. Visa delays and other issues had kept her from participating, but this year, everything aligned. The organizers waived her registration fee, and she managed to fund her travel and other expenses herself.
“I tried many times in the past, but something always came up. Last year, the visa was delayed. This time, everything worked out,” she said.
Usha Khanal had also competed in a similar race in the United States last year. However, she had recently suffered a broken arm at the time and wasn’t able to give her best performance. Now fully recovered, she plans to return to the U.S. for another major race in August and is hopeful for an even stronger result.
