KUCHING: Siol International Mountain Bike Challenge Final Leg Asia Mountain Bike Series (SIMBC 2017-AMS) will be returning to the extreme sports enthusiasts from 3 to 5 November.
Organised by Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) with Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) as the main sponsor of the event, SIMBC 2017-AMS will be held at Mountain Bike (MTB) Track of Bukit Siol in Jalan Semariang.
The main objective of this event is to foster a healthy lifestyle among youths in line with the government’s call.
At the same time, DBKU also intends to promote SIMBC as an icon in Sarawak where it will be included in the tourism calendar in the coming year.
Speaking at the launch of the event at Kompleks Islam Sarawak in Jalan P. Ramlee here yesterday, Mayor of DBKU Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai said, they were expecting riders from Japan, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Timor Leste, the Philippines and Kazahkstan.
On top of that, a total of RM76,424.50 in prize money are offered for the event which will feature three categories, namely Individual Downhill (Men’s Elite, Women’s Elite and Men’s Masters); Cross Country Olympic (Men’s Elite, Women’s Elite, Men’s Junior, Women’s Junior, Men’s Master A, Men’s Master B and Sarawak Closed) and Team Relay Mayor’s Challenge Trophy.
“The race will be run according to the rules and regulations set by Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
“What’s more is that this year, champion of Team Relay will take home the new Mayor’s Challenge Trophy as the previous Trophy is given to Team Giant for winning the Team Relay category for three consecutive years,” he disclosed.
Siol Mountain Bike Challenge has been an annual event since it started in 2003. In July 2015, DBKU applied to UCI to sanction the event under category 3 classification.
SIMBC is now included in the UCI calendar of events with the added honour of hosting the junior XCO world series which is organised in Europe, Australia, Africa, America and Asia.
The entry fee for each category is RM100 for Malaysian citizens and USD50 for foreigners.
Wahap added, following the instructions from the National Cycling Federation of Malaysia (PKBM), participants must have PKBM/UCI Cycling Licence.
“However, for non-licenced riders, the PKBM will open registration counters on the registration day for a temporary PKBM/UCI Cycling Licence for a fee of RM10.
“Registration and final briefing will be held on November 3 from 9am to 5pm at DBKU Lobby, Bukit Siol in Jalan Semariang,” he explained.
Those who wish to participate in the SIMBC 2017-AMS may obtain entry forms at Level 4, Community Relations and Social Services Division of DBKU at Kompleks Islam or visit SIMBC’s official website at www.simbc.com.my.
Also present at the event were Assistant General Manager of Corporate Communication Department of SEB Peing Tajang and Organising Chairman of the event who is also Director of DBKU Jumaini Haili.
