As the final cheers faded and the trails of Pokhara Enduro fell silent, India’s top female enduro rider, Anissa Dariti Lamare, left Nepal’s adventure capital with more than just memories of a race well run.

In Pokhara, Lamare tackled the rugged trails to secure second place in the Open Women category, finishing just behind Nepal’s Laxmi Magar. Along the way, she reflected on her extraordinary journey and made meaningful connections with fellow riders.

Lamare descended Mahaprabhudham, the Pokhara Enduro race venue in the Arba Hills, with a fresh vision. She set her sights on creating new trails in Meghalaya’s rugged hills, determined to reshape mountain biking in India. As the country’s pioneering female enduro mountain biker, she competes not only for medals but also to transform the future of a sport she holds dear.

Perseverance

From a young girl pedalling along the winding paths of Shillong to becoming India’s first female downhill mountain biker, her story is one of grit, passion, and breaking barriers.

Every race, she realised, was not just a test of skill but a call to redefine possibilities for women in the sport. As the hills of Northeast India prepare to echo with the thrill of mountain biking, Lamare’s vision is coming to life—one trail, one rider, one community at a time.

Lamare formed a deep connection with her surroundings in Shillong. With a passion for cycling from an early age, she began racing downhill in December 2015.

However, little did she know the sport would demand more from her than just skill. It would require resilience against a world that often viewed her as an anomaly, a lone female rider in a sea of men.

In the early years of her racing career, Lamare had no choice but to compete alongside male riders, as there were hardly any women in the sport. The local enduro scene had few riders. Those who competed were often overlooked and underrecognised.

Undeterred, she embraced the challenge. Yet, the lack of a dedicated women’s category meant she faced boys who had been riding the trails for years, often with superior gear and experience.

“Each time I lined up for a race, it felt like I was entering a space where I was a bit of an outsider,” Lamare, 27, recalls. “But I didn’t let it stop me. I knew that by showing up, I wasn’t just racing—I was paving the the way for others.”

The challenges she faced off the track were even more gruelling. While Lamare and her male counterparts put in hours of training and raced across the unforgiving terrain, the sport of enduro was still largely invisible to local authorities and sponsors. As a result, Lamare found herself competing in an environment that treated her passion as a spectacle rather than a legitimate sport.

‘Circus-like’

The turning point came one day when Lamare overheard a conversation among local officials during an event. They spoke dismissively of enduro racing, calling it “circus-like,” a mere show of stunts rather than a real sport. Lamare, who had poured sweat and tears into her preparation, was stung by the remark.

“I felt humiliated,” she says, her voice tinged with the memory. “Here I was, trying to build something meaningful, and the very people who were supposed to support us were dismissing it as a joke.”

Track cycling and road racing, being Olympic disciplines, attract considerable attention from authorities and sponsors, according to her. “They enjoy the support, resources, and recognition that enduro riders are working hard to secure.”

The situation for boys in enduro racing has eased in recent years, she notes. “Their races have gained more respect and they are now taken more seriously than in the past. I hope the authorities will start viewing female enduro riders in the same way.”

Instead of succumbing to frustration, Lamare used this experience to fuel her determination. Supported by her family up to 2020, she recognised that waiting for the world to change was not an option.

If the sport she loved was to thrive—especially for women—she knew she had to take matters into her own hands. This meant breaking barriers and carving out a space in a field long dominated by men.

“It’s like climbing a mountain,” Lamare says with a smile. “You don’t wait for the summit to come to you. You start climbing, step by step, and eventually, the view becomes worth it.”

The COVID pandemic inspired many to think beyond conventional paths. What was once envisioned as a post-retirement plan took shape unexpectedly for Lamare in 2021. She launched a bike shop, Pedal Compass, in Shillong. Initially a collaborative venture, she took full ownership of the business in 2023.

“Business is personal, especially when it’s your passion. It also becomes personal when you choose to stray away from a nine-to-five job in a place like Shillong,” Lamare expressed on her Instagram handle.

After extensive renovations and pouring every available resource, a modest room in her home compound was transformed into a larger, more ambitious space.

“It stems from riding bikes, racing bikes, fixing bikes and constantly showing the world that it’s possible to follow your dreams,” the post says, acknowledging the unyielding support of her family, friends, and well-wishers.

Serious Competitor

Her journey was not without hurdles, though. As she continued to compete, Lamare faced the reality of being the lone female competitor in many races. The boys, while respectful, often did not understand the unique challenges she faced as a woman in a male-dominated sport. But Lamare’s resolve only strengthened. She pushed herself harder, determined to show that women were just as capable as their male counterparts.

“It was tough in the beginning,” she admits. “Sometimes, I felt out of place, like I didn’t belong. But over time, I started to see the impact of what I was doing. People began to take notice, and slowly, the attitude began to shift. I wasn’t just ‘the girl in the race’ anymore—I was Anissa Lamare, a serious competitor.”

As she raced across India’s rugged terrain, Lamare became a beacon for other women looking to break into the sport. Her tenacity earned her a spot on the Indian national team, a recognition she hadn’t dared to dream of in the early days.

Lamare was one of only two female downhill riders and among 11 Indian women selected to represent India in the 31-member contingent at the 28th Asian Continental Mountain Bike Championships in October 2023.

Competing in the Elite Downhill category at Ponmudi, a hill station about 65 km northeast of Trivandrum, she secured a commendable ninth-place finish. The race was dominated by Thailand’s Vipavee Deekaballes, who claimed victory.

Even as she reached new heights, the fight for respect and visibility continued. It wasn’t just about winning races—it was about ensuring that future generations of female riders would have the opportunities and recognition they deserved.

Spreading Wings

Being an entrepreneur has provided her with the financial flexibility to compete in more enduro races, including those in neighbouring countries. Her recent participation in the Pokhara Enduro follows her successful involvement in EnduroLK in Sri Lanka this past May, showcasing her growing presence in the regional enduro scene. She is extending her trip to Nepal to compete in the Himalayan Enduro, which is scheduled for this weekend at Nagarkot Hills, 30 km east of Kathmandu.

During the Pokhara Enduro, she was invited by Oman’s Al Waal team to compete in an upcoming enduro event in early 2025. This international opportunity underscores the growing recognition of her skills and adds an exciting new chapter to her mountain biking journey.

Once the sole woman on the track, Lamare is now a driving force for change. She transforms each race and challenge into progress towards a future where women no longer have to fight for their spot at the start line. The mountain may be steep, but for Lamare, every climb is an opportunity to show that the view from the top is for everyone—regardless of gender.

As Lamare prepares to bring enduro racing to her home state of Meghalaya, she reflects on how far the sport has come and how much further it has to go. “We’re on the right track,” she says, her voice steady with conviction. “But the battle is ongoing. We still need to create more spaces for women to race, train, and feel like they belong. We need to show the world that enduro is not a circus. It’s a sport and it’s here to stay!”

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