Property developer Eco World Development Group Berhad, which has partnered with the New Straits Times (NST) to organise the much anticipated C-Cycle Challenge, will keep the cycling sport thriving within its Eco Grandeur community, even after the event on May 21.
Eco World divisional general manager, Ho Kwee Hong, said in line with their key features of incorporating cycling tracks when developing their residential projects, they were going a step further by building a bike park to cater to enthusiasts in the Puncak Alam community.
The bike park, the first of its kind in the Klang Valley, which will be built on a 1.61ha piece of land in two phases, will be located adjacent to its Eco Grandeur sales gallery in Puncak Alam.
Expected to be ready in a year, Ho said the planning stage of the bike park had started while the design process was in progress, as they were referring to overseas models to incorporate exciting features that could cater to extreme and leisure cyclists of all ages.
“Eco World does not just sell houses, but homes which will not be complete if we do not include amenities in it.
“Coincidentally, Eco Grandeur is located in Persiaran Mokhtar Dahari, which is also known as the Dragon’s Back to cycling enthusiasts due to its terrain as certain stretches are framed by forest reserves. This makes it a conducive environment for cycling and the Dragon’s Back route is popular with cyclists at night and even more so on weekends. “When Eco World ventured into this area, we did not know that this was a cycling spot. So, we want to take advantage of what is presented before us and bring it to a higher level.”
Ho said together with the bike park there would also be Grandeur Labs, a one-stop hub for cyclists to have their needs fulfilled.
Eco World group branding head Steven Tang said around 100 Eco World staff would be participating in the C-Cycle Challenge, adding that it was the firm’s first time collaborating with the NST to organise a large-scale cycling event.
“When the NST approached us with the idea, we were excited as we are always looking for something new and fresh to offer the public.
“We both want to promote cycling and we have the same vision. Eco World has the perfect venue while NST has the idea, so we thought it would be right for us to come together and organise this event,” he said.
The C-Cycle Challenge is expected to attract 1,500 participants, who will be flagged off from Eco Grandeur and split into the 160km race and 35km Fun Ride where cyclists will pedal through the Puncak Alam-Simpang Tiga Jeram to Kuala Selangor-Batu Arang route and back.
There are four categories under the 160km race — men’s open (18 to 35 years old), women’s open (15 and above), senior men’s open (36 and above) and team open (with a minimum of five cyclists) are required to pay a RM160 participation fee.
The 35km Fun Ride is open to corporate senior management (by invitation) and all ages, with a RM50 fee. Registration can be made at www.sports360.my until Sunday (Apr 30).