Road Map For Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge
News Release / 17.07.2012
The Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge (LIMBC) has made a quantum leap in terms of its status, only into the third year of its existence.
The 2012 edition, scheduled on Oct 15-20, has been selected as one of only ten mountain bike stage races worldwide to be included in the world body UCI’s international calendar, with a 2.2 stage cross country (XCS) race status and world ranking points on offer.
This was revealed at the launch officiated by LIMBC honorary patron, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, here today. Also present were race organizer and Human Voyage Sdn Bhd chief executive, Datuk Malik Mydin.
The course will take the participants to the best places Langkawi can offer – treasured landmarks and beauty spots including Eagle Square, Telaga Harbour, Oriental Village, Langkawi GeoPark and a stunning beach finale at Pantai Kok.
Dr Mahathir said a successful LIMBC 2012 would strengthen Langkawi’s current bid to host one round of the annual UCI MTB Marathon Series in 2013 and the UCI MTB Marathon World Championships in 2015.
“These events represent the pinnacle of mountain biking competition and bring with them considerable foreign spectator support, international media interest and television coverage. This is where LIMBC can play a valuable role in developing tourism.
“There are today many hundreds of thousands of enthusiast mountain bikers worldwide who enjoy traveling to find new experiences and participating in endurance events such as LIMBC.
“Many countries in the West are enjoying the economic benefits of having a tourism strategy that includes quality mountain bike trails, with facilities and events to support them.
“In Scotland for example, tourism statistics suggest 1.3million people visit the country each year for the purpose of mountain biking with 600,000 of them visiting purpose built trails.
“As a result, mountain biking has become the number one tourism leisure activity in terms of economic contribution (overtaking golf, walking and fishing) by generating an annual GBP119million (nearly RM600million per year) to Scotland’s economy.
“Let us hope Langkawi too will be able to reap the economic benefits by catering for the demand in quality trails.”
Malik said: “Following the success of the past two editions of LIMBC, a positive image of Langkawi is being spread amongst the mountain bike community. As a result, we are confident that a number of the world’s top 20 riders (both male and female) will be in amongst the 500 participating the 2012 race.
“Already LIMBC 2012 is offering total prize money totaling US$125,000 (approx RM400,000) - the highest prize purse for a mountain bike event anywhere in the world!
“In addition, LIMBC now offers valuable UCI World Ranking points for both its male and female competitors.
“But LIMBC is not just about elite athletes and world champions. LIMBC is open to all levels of ability and structured so that the more casual enthusiast can also experience a world class course and participate alongside the world’s best.”
This year’s LIMBC will flag off on Monday Oct 15 with a prologue - an individual time trial of 2.3km at the Eagle Square, followed by Stage 1, a 65km round the island race.
Stage 2 is a 45km race from East to West Langkawi, followed by a gruelling Stage 3, the 90km Langkawi Marathon. Stage 4 is an Olympic distance Cross Country race around Langkawi GeoPark followed by Stage 5, a stunning beachfront finale around a short circuit at Pantai Kok.
In 2011, Germany’s Karl Platt and Switzerland’s Nathalie Schneitter clinched the overall victory in the men’s elite and women’s elite categories, respectively.
For this year’s race, entry fee for international participants is US$750, which includes race registration fee for stage and jamboree, seven-day accommodation, full board meals and return transfer to the airport.
Race entry fee for local riders is RM250.
Registration is accepted either via online registration at www.mtbmalaysia.com or by sending the completed downloaded registration forms and bank-in reference number of the registration fee to fax number 603-9222 1786 or via email info@mtbmalaysia.com. Credit card payment via Mastercard or Visa only. Participants and members of the media are also invited to look out for upcoming updates over facebook.com/mtbmalaysia or twitter.com/mtbmalaysia.
