KENCANA-SIC BIKEATHON BIGGER THIS YEAR

Mountain bike junkies are in for a treat as this year January 24  as the Kencana-SIC bikeathon has added a new race in the program, a mountain bike race to complement its road race that’s done on the 5.543km long Sepang International Circuit (SIC).

The Mountain bike riders will be racing on a 3km long off road circuit set in between oil palm trees near the main entrance of SIC.  Riders can expect sandy and part grass surfaces to navigate through including two uphill sections.

“The sport of mountain biking is a growing sport in this country and we are proud to be part of this movement,” said SIC CEO Razlan Razali.

He added that although the sport does not involve the usual high octane sport that SIC organizes but it’s a way for SIC to diversify and be able to cater to a broader type of events such as weddings and parties.

Although the Criterium is set on the super smooth, F1 standard road surface of the circuit but expect a good challenge as the race have been designed to run counter clockwise and this means riders will have two long hill climbs to complete on each lap.

“It will be interesting to see the riders handle the long uphill climb starting from turn 3 to the top at turn 1 (counting backwards since the race is moving counter clockwise),” said Razlan who often rides his bikes on the track whenever he can afford to get away from his busy schedule.

“We have good response for both events with national cyclists among the competitors in the last bike race we organised … we expect an even better response for the SIC-Kencana Bikeathon 2010,” said Razlan, who planned to make the bikeathon as an annual event and as SIC’s contribution to the development of cycling in Malaysia.

Both the criterium and mountain bike race would run three classes of competition – the veteran category, the junior category and the open category.

“At the criterium race, we would also be having a special race for the kids later in the day right before the prize giving session. We called it the criterium dash where the kids would compete on a 400-meter stretch on the circuit front straight. For those familiar with our drag race, they can imagine how the race will be … except that this is just for the kids to have fun,” added Razlan.

Entry fee is only RM20 per rider, registration for the race will start on Saturday 23rd 4 to 5 pm after the pit entrance.