OCBC Cycle mass rides a huge hit with cycling community, while Thailand claim first SEA Speedway Championships since pre-Covid days
Singapore, 12 May 2024 – OCBC Cycle 2024’s mass rides continue to see strong interest from the cycling community with more than 6,200 cyclists taking to the roads at Singapore’s marquee mass cycling event today – matching last year’s in-person participation record.
The newly-introduced mass ride category, The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km), was sold out in the first month of registration. The Sportive Ride (40km) was sold out more than a week before the close of registration on 3 May 2024.
A total of more than 6,800 cyclists took part in the event, which also includes the 100km and 500km Virtual Rides.
The inaugural edition of The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km) was introduced to cater to the rising interest in foldable bicycles. Partnering renowned foldable bicycle maker Brompton, this new ride category attracted over 1,000 participants, with 60 per cent of them taking part in OCBC Cycle for the first time.
All registration slots for this ride category were sold out in the first month of registration, followed by another sold-out ride category of the same distance – The Sportive Ride (40km). These milestones highlight the participants’ increased cycling proficiencies and their willingness to take on longer distances.
The continued, and positive, support from the cycling community serves as a testament to the event’s influence on Singaporeans as more adopt an active lifestyle through cycling, and cements OCBC Cycle as the highlight of the cycling community’s calendar in Singapore.
Ms Helen Wong, Group CEO, OCBC, said: “OCBC Cycle has grown from strength to strength since 2009. The event has showcased many different cycling formats and attracted a melting pot of cyclists across different cycling proficiencies and interest groups. We welcome 45 national cyclists from nine ASEAN countries to compete in the OCBC Cycle Speedway Southeast Asia Championship on Saturday."
"We knew that The Foldie Ride by Brompton would sell out fast and it did, in four weeks. Without the support of all cyclists and their families and friends, the local authorities – the Land Transport Authority and Sport Singapore – and all the partners, OCBC Cycle will not become the Cycling Event of the Year. We will continue to look at ways to enhance the experiences.”
Participants of The Straits Times Ride (20km) were flagged off by Guests of Honour – Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth; Ms Helen Wong, Group CEO, OCBC; Mr Alan Goh, CEO, Sport Singapore; Mr Quek Swee Kuan, CEO, Kallang Alive Sport Management; and Mr Jaime Ho, Editor, The Straits Times.
Cyclists taking part in the mass rides took the rare opportunity to experience cycling through the city on closed roads, passing iconic landmarks including Benjamin Sheares Bridge, the Singapore Flyer, and Gardens by the Bay, before ending their rides inside the National Stadium. Attracting a diverse range of participants, from young riders to seniors, the mass rides embodied how the sport of cycling promotes an active lifestyle as well as social and family bonding.
Mr Tong Lok Lum, 29, who participated in OCBC Cycle for the first time, said: “The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km) has made OCBC Cycle more accessible to casual cyclists like myself. As one of the first cycling events in Singapore with a category specifically for foldies, we have a great opportunity to come together as a community and participate in the largest gathering of cycling enthusiasts in Singapore. Cycling has been an important part of my life, and essential to my daily commutes, so I could not pass on the unique chance to explore our city on closed roads.”
Mdm Suriani Bte Asri, 51, who also participated in The Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km) said: “The cycling community, especially the foldie community, has really supported me on my journey. When I see my friends and loved ones complete new milestones, like cycle further and test out new routes, it inspires me to try new things, push myself further, and support other cyclists who are new to the community too. OCBC Cycle is an event where we can all come together, reunite with old friends and meet new ones too!”
Across two days, more than 6,800 cyclists took part in OCBC Cycle 2024 across 10 categories. On 11 May, the OCBC Cycle Speedway Championships saw the much-anticipated return of the Speedway SEA Championship for the first time since 2019.
Thailand claims title of Speedway SEA Championship
Teams from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Indonesia, competed against Singapore for bragging rights as the best in the region. Thailand emerged victorious, beating second-placed Indonesia by 18 seconds with Malaysia taking third place. In addition, Quantum Racing A and Team OCBC overcame stiff competition to be crowned champions in the Club and Corporate Championships respectively.
The Mighty Savers® Kids and Family Rides also took place on 11 May, where young cyclists between 2 and 12 years old experienced the joys of cycling with other young cyclists and their family members along Stadium Drive, with the Singapore Sports Hub serving as a backdrop. This year, as part of the Teach-A-Child-To-Cycle programme under OCBC’s corporate social responsibility and outreach -- 43 beneficiaries from OCBC’s charity partners such as Care Corner Singapore, SportCares and Beyond Social Services also took part in the event.
OCBC Cycle continues to catalyse the growth of the cycling culture in Singapore, and brings Singaporeans together as a community around the sport of cycling, through the rare opportunity to ride on the closed roads of the city. While the in-person categories draw to a close, OCBC Cycle continues with the 100km Virtual Ride and 500km Virtual Ride from 11 May – 10 June.
More details on OCBC Cycle 2024 can be found on www.ocbccycle.com.