Langkawi International Mountain Bike Race
Langkawi MTB Race Joins UCI MTB World Marathon Champs
News Release / 31.07.2013
Kuala Lumpur (July 9, 2013): Langkawi has been granted the right to stage a world-class mountain bike event in September.
World cycling body UCI has picked Langkawi to host one leg of the qualifying series of the 2013-2014 UCI MTB Marathon World Championship on Sept 28, the first time the race is brought to Asia.
The Series takes place over two calendar years - the first leg is held shortly after the UCI MTB Marathon World Championship and the final leg cannot be closer than two weeks before the following year’s edition.
The recently concluded 2013 MTB marathon World Championship in Kirchberg, Austria, was won by Switzerland’s Christoph Sauser (men’s elite) and Norway’s Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (women’s elite).
The 2014 edition will be held in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
The qualifying leg in Langkawi also serve as the prelude to the 4th edition of the Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge (LIMBC).
The UCI MTB Marathon qualifying series is open to national federation riders or professional teams. Participants do not require UCI ranking points to take part.
In announcing this, Human Voyage Sdn Bhd CEO, Datuk Malik Mydin, said the Langkawi leg offers participants the opportunity to earn a ticket to South Africa next year.
Twenty riders from Langkawi and other legs and the top 50 riders on the overall general classification automatically qualify for Pietermaritzburg in June 2014.
The individual general marathon series ranking is drawn up on the basis of the points won by each rider. Top 40 men score points from 40 to one point while the top 20 women scores from 20 to one.
“We are delighted to be staging one of the qualifying series for the UCI MTB Marathon World Championship.
“This reflects the recognition given by the UCI for our successful staging of the three previous editions of LIMBC,” he said.
Langkawi is one of the 2013-2014 qualifying legs which also include Villabassa (Italy), Sietterstrand (Denmark), Ucka (Croatia), Graz (Austria), Verbier (Switzerland), Jurmala (Latvia), Val Di Fassa (Italy), Obwalden (Switzerland), Langkawi, Ornans (France), Frejus (France) and Punchuncavi (Chile).
The distances of the series are a minimum 70km to maximum 100km for women and minimum 80km to maximum 120km for men.
Meanwhile Fabian Giger and Lea Davison, LIMBC 2012 overall champions in the men’s and women’s Open respectively, are expected to defend their titles.
The duo are eager to come back and enjoy the Langkawi weather having conquered the gruelling stages and their rivals last year. Giger is currently ranked No 6 in MTB cross-country, whil Davison is 17th in the women’s elite as at June 25.
For weekend warriors out for some competition, the entry fee for international participants is US$800 which includes race registration fee for stage and jamboree, seven-day accommodation, full board meals and return transfer to the airport.
Race entry fee that includes jamboree for local riders is RM300. Entry fee for jamboree on Sept 28 is RM60. National teams will be provided basic accommodation and airport transfer.
Registration is accepted via online at www.mtbmalaysia.com. Email info@mtbmalaysia.com for any enquiries.
Participants and members of the media are also invited to look out for upcoming updates over facebook.com/mtbmalaysia or twitter.com/mtbmalaysia.
SleepMonsters
