Saddle up for Ride of the Century in Miri
MIRI: The 1st Miri International Century Ride 2017 scheduled for March 26 is offering attractive cash prizes of RM12,900 to be won, with the mantle of ‘King of Bukit Song’ to be claimed.
Some 500 cyclists will vie in the 120- km race organised by Masterpiece Cycling Club of Miri and Specialised Miri. Besides local entries, the organisers have received confirmation of entries from Brunei, Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia as well as from different regions such as Singapore, Indonesia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Australia, Germany and Holland.
According to an organising spokesman, the race is divided into six categories of Men’s Elite Open, Men’s Veteran (40- 49 years old), Men’s Master ( 50 years old and above), Men’s Junior (18 years old and above), Ladies’ Open and Mountain Bike (13 and above).
Prizes for all categories are similar whereby the winner takes home RM1,000 cash plus trophy, followed by RM500 cash (second) and RM300 cash for third placing. Seven consolation winners in each category will be given RM50 in cash prize.
Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin and Miri Mayor Adam Yii have been invited to flag off for the race around 6am at the starting point of Imperial Mall & Permaisuri Imperial City Mall Miri.
From flag- off, cyclists will pass through the Miri centre to Bekenu via Miri Bintulu Pan Borneo Road and turn back to Lambir via coastal road heading for the finishing line at the starting point. If fair weather permits, organisers said the faster cyclists are expected to finish the race within two hours 30 minutes.
“The route has numerous chal lenges over the 120km distance that will push fitness to its limit with a climbing stage at Bukit Song, Lambir, which is a 1.5- km climb at an estimated gradient of 15 degrees where the fastest cyclist to achieve the climb would win the title “King of Bukit Song”.
Participants also stand an opportunity to win prizes in a lucky draw which offers prizes worth RM20,000, where the grand prize is a Specialised Road Bike.
“We would like to invite the public to witness this event where the finishing line will be exciting and thrilling as top elite cyclists will sprint towards victory.
“There will be some road closure during the cycling event, thus we seek public understanding and patience for the inconvenience in the affected areas.”
The international cycling event is supported by Ministry of Tourism Sarawak, Miri City Council, Fire and Rescue Services Department ( Bomba), police and Cycling Association of Sarawak.