Bhubaneswar: Union minister for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan will flag off a first-of-its-kind cyclothon under the banner of Saksham Cyclothon on February 4 at Kalinga Stadium here.

State co-ordinator of Pritish Bharat on Wednesday announced that Saksham Cyclothon would be held in three categories - 33km race (men's category), 22km race (women's category) and 11km rally (general category).

There will be free entry in all categories. All the participants will have to carry their own cycle to take part in the cyclothon. The participants will get free kit carrying t-shirt, helmet, wristband and backpack. The cyclothon is to begin from Kalinga Stadium. The route will be Kalinga stadium-Ram Mandir-Sishu Bhavan Chowk-Kalinga Stadium . A draw among the participants will also be held wherein 50 participants will be awarded one cycle each.

Participants can register their names online and offline through the helpdesks arra-nged at nine petrol pumps in the city.