Some journeys measure distance. Others measure destiny. For 27-year-old Adil Teli from Budgam, Kashmir, the road to the UCI Gran Fondo World Series Final 2025 in Melbourne has been both.
On Sunday, he’ll line up for the 15th edition of the Gran Fondo, starting October 16 with the time trial and ending October 19 with a gruelling 131-kilometre endurance race. Among the world’s best amateurs will stand a young man who once rode a ₹3,000 bicycle to fetch groceries.
Today, his story is taught to sixth graders in Kashmir — a lesson in perseverance and possibility.
Pedals Over Poverty
Adil grew up in hardship. His father, Abdul Rashid Teli, earns ₹300–₹400 a day as a daily wager. His mother and three sisters make shawls to keep the family afloat. Cycling began as necessity, not ambition.
I used my first cycle for errands. But soon, the road started speaking to me.
By college, he was a three-time inter-college champion, earning a ₹30,000 scholarship. He matched it with a ₹30,000 loan to buy his first serious cycle. That investment became his escape route.Breaking Limits, Setting Records.
'In 2016, Adil conquered the Srinagar–Leh route, awakening his endurance spirit. His next goal was audacious — to set a Guinness World Record by cycling from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Everyone said it was impossible.
After months of solo training, a severe injury nearly ended his attempt. But his mother’s words — “Pain will pass, regret won’t” — pushed him through.
Eight days, one hour, and thirty-nine minutes later, he reached India’s southern tip, claiming the world record for the fastest ride from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.
Soon after, he cycled the 475-kilometre Manali–Leh stretch in under 30 hours, another record that cemented his place among India’s top endurance cyclists.
The Gran Fondo Dream
After missing qualification in 2023, Adil returned in 2024, impressing at the Spinneys Dubai 92 Challenge. Sponsorship was scarce, but his determination wasn’t.
Gran Fondo isn’t just a race. It’s proof that a boy from Kashmir can stand among the best. Every pedal stroke tells me no dream is too far.
Adil’s rise was powered by faith and support. His first sponsor, Zabarvan, spotted him after his Guinness record. Later, when funds ran dry, the Saanjha Charitable Foundation, founded by Vasundhra Magotra, stepped in.
Adil is why Saanjha exists. Talent should never be lost to circumstance.
In Melbourne, the Kashmiri diaspora rallied around him, helping him prepare for the biggest race of his life.
It felt like home had travelled with me.
Racing Beyond the Finish Line
As he gears up for the October 16 time trial, Adil knows he’s racing not just the clock — but the odds he’s defied all his life. From Budgam’s narrow lanes to Melbourne’s world stage, his story shows that grit can turn gravel into gold.
My goal is simple. To keep pedalling until doubt fades behind me.
When Adil Teli rides through Melbourne, it won’t just be a race — it’ll be a reminder that broken roads can still lead to beautiful destinations.
