KUALA LUMPUR: Police will close several roads and divert traffic in the federal capital on Sunday for the Grand Fondo New York (GNFY) international cycling race.
City police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the roads being used for the event will be closed from 6.30am to 11am.
"The event begins at 6.45am and is expected to end around 11am. This race is carried out in two stages, the first being for 130km and the other for 65.7km.
"The route being used involves 40km in the Kuala Lumpur city centre, while the rest will be in Selangor, specifically involving the Gombak and Hulu Selangor police districts," he said in a statement.
The route being used in Kuala Lumpur begins in Dataran Merdeka before heading to Jalan Raja and on to Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Tun Perak, Jalan Raja Chulan, Jalan Conlay, Jalan Stonor, Jalan Kia Peng and Jalan Perak.
From there, the route goes on to Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Sultan Ismail again, back to Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Putra, Jalan Tun Ismail, Jalan Dato Onn, Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar, Jalan Parlimen, Jalan Persiaran Tuanku Ja'afar, Jalan Damansara and Jalan Bukit Petaling.
It will then head to Jalan Hang Tuah and Jalan Imbi, before the route makes a U-turn at the Times Square traffic light and heads back onto Jalan Imbi, followed by Jalan Hang Tuah, Jalan Bukit Petaling, Jalan Istana, Jalan Sungai Besi, onto the Sungai Besi roundabout, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Kuching and the Batu Caves roundabout.
From there, the race enters Selangor before entering the federal territory again on Jalan Kuching and ending in Dataran Merdeka.
Rusdi advised the public that it would be better to use public transportation services instead of driving in the federal capital.
"(If you are driving), avoid the roads that will be affected by the race. Follow all instructions from policemen who will be on duty that day so that we can ensure smooth traffic management," he said.
Rusdi said GFNY will see the participation of 385 cyclists, adding that the winner of the race would qualify for the finals in New York in December.
For enquiries, the public can contact the Kuala Lumpur City Hall Hotline at 03-26179378, the Kuala Lumpur Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department Hotline (03-20719777) or refer to the city police and city traffice police Facebook pages.