SHAH ALAM: MORE than 1,200 cyclists took part in the New Straits Times and Eco World’s inaugural C-Cycle Challenge yesterday.
Split into two categories — the 160km Century Ride and the 35km Fun Ride — local and international cyclists were flagged off from the Eco Grandeur sales gallery in Bandar Puncak Alam here by New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid and Eco World Foundation chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
With them were NST group editor Yushaimi Yahaya and Eco World Development Group Bhd president and chief executive officer Datuk Chang Khim Wah.
NST organised the event in partnership with Eco World. Sponsors included Volkswagen Malaysia, Bank Rakyat, Etika Sdn Bhd (the manufacturer of Revive energy drink), GCH Retail (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Ciclista Sdn Bhd and Jiwa Basikal.
There were four categories under the 160km Century Ride — Men’s Open (18 to 35 years old), Women’s Open (15 years and above), Senior Men’s Open (36 years and above) and Team Open (open challenge with a minimum of five cyclists).
Participants of the Century Ride pedalled through Puncak Alam-Simpang Tiga Jeram to Kuala Selangor-Batu Arang and back.
Those in the 35km Fun Ride followed a loop from the Eco Grandeur sales gallery to Kapar, Universiti Teknologi Mara in Puncak Alam and back.
There was also a carnival featuring NST sales booths, a popcorn stand and food trucks.
Jalil said the response was encouraging and had gone beyond their target, especially to have participants from 16 countries, including teams that flew in from Singapore and Thailand.
“This has given us more reasons to continue the event next year and in the future. I hope we can do it with Eco World and other partners as well as sponsors in a bigger and better way.
“C-Cycle Challenge is also a way for NST to reach out to its readers and be closer to them.
“Besides being a newspaper and putting up our stories online, we want to engage our readers in a more meaningful way by having ground activation such as this event. It helps us to have a better rapport with our readers and gather feedback on what they want.
“This is also a way to foster family relationships where on a Sunday morning, parents bring their children to participate in the event. This is also a platform to foster unity, integration and promote healthy living.”
Lee said Eco World had agreed to organise the event annually with the NST.
He said the C-Cycle Challenge would not only be remembered as a cycling event, but also one that promoted unity among Malaysians.