EVENT TARGETS
300 have signed up in four days since March 29 launch
VEENA BABULAL PUNCAK ALAM news@nst.com.my
MORE than 2,000 cyclists are targeted to take part in the New Straits Times (NST) C-Cycle Challenge on May 21. Project manager Mahamad Zaidi Mat Noor said 300 people had signed up for the cycling event in the four days since it was launched on March 29.
Zaidi, who is also New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad (NSTP) Marketing Department Content Activation executive, said this after representing the group in a technical meeting with its co-organisers, Eco World Development Group Berhad at Eco World Gallery@Eco Grandeur here yesterday.
The cycling event is split into a 160km race and 35km fun ride.
The 160km ride will be flagged off from Eco Grandeur (sales gallery) and will follow the Puncak Alam-Simpang Tiga Jeram eoute to Kuala Selangor-Batu Arang and back.
For the race category, there is the Men’s Open (18 to 35), Women’s Open (15 and above), Senior Men’s Open (36 and above) and Team (open challenge) that carries a participation fee of RM160.
The inaugural challenge offers cash prizes of RM2,500, RM1,500 and RM1,000 for first, second and third place for the Men’s Open, Women’s Open and Senior Men’s Open categories.
Fourth to 10th place will receive RM800, RM600, RM500, RM400, RM300, RM200 and RM100 respectively.
For the fun ride categories, there are Corporate Seniors Open (by invitation), as well as a Fun Ride Open event that is open to all, with a fee of RM50.
The ride takes a loop from the sales gallery here to Kapar, Universiti Teknologi Mara Puncak Alam and back.
The event’s technical adviser, Muhd Sanusi Kamarul Azaha, said the 160km route was challenging and advised those keen on participating to train for four to six hours daily.
He said there would be medics, safety officers and police trailing the routes, adding that the tentative route was yet to be endorsed by the authorities.
Eco World group branding head Steven Tang said they were planning events and activities and would update participants.
The sales gallery is expected to play host to food trucks, NSTP sales booths, cycling activities for children and their parents surplus financial performance for seven years in a row, despite the uncertain global economy.
State Exco for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Communications and Multimedia Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi said authorities were prepared to apprehend those who visited the island, famous for the blue tears phenomena and a lucky draw.
The event is sponsored by Bank Rakyat and Volkswagen.
Registration for the challenge can be made online at www.sports360.my until April 30.
For details, call Sanusi at 0169393934. that appear at night due to bioluminescent phytoplankton.
She said if tourist numbers were not controlled, the phytoplanktons would cease to exist.
Since the closure, which took effect April 1, a thorough study is being carried out to ensure it would be a tourist attraction in future.