SOME 2,000 foreign and local cyclists are expected to take part in the Langkawi International Mountain Bike Championships (LIMBC) on Oct 11-18.
Offering total prize money of US$150,000 (RM500,000), organiser Human Voyage Sdn Bhd’s chief executive officer Datuk Malik Mydin said the riders will cover some 85km this year, which is 25km more than in the previous round.
He said the event, which had entered its fifth year, was an extension of the 60km distance raced last year although the longer route will pass Gunung Raya and surrounding paddy fields, similar to the one set in 2013.
Malik said the cyclists will race in the men’s Elite, women’s Elite, men’s Masters, and senior Masters categories.
The race will also hold the men’s Open category for “weekend warriors” and novice riders aged between 30 and 39.
“We have extended the race course to make it more challenging, especially for international riders who are not used to our climate,” he told a press conference on the event’s soft launch at the Perdana Global Leadership Foundation centre in Putrajaya yesterday.
Present were former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tradewinds Corporation Berhad CEO Shaharul Farez Hassan.
Dr Mahathir said the presence of extreme sports such as mountain biking is becoming increasingly popular among Malaysians.
“It is not only enjoyed by athletes but also the normal people and that is why it is a good opportunity to promote Langkawi as a major tourism attraction,” he said in his speech at the launching. By A. Azim Idris