Second race of Samarahan series set for this weekend

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KUCHING:  The second race of the Samarahan circuit series is slated for this Sunday The race is organized by UniMas’ Kelab Cergas Palapes with Team Sonamu as their main sponsor.

This is the first time a cycling team is helping to sponsor a race while also participating in it.

According to race organizer Mohd. Fariman Zulkifli, they expect some 120 racers in the event sanctioned by the Sarawak Cycling Association.

“We should see 70 competitors in the Open category and 50 junoirs in that event,” said Fariman.

The Open race will see riders cover 90km in the season’s longest race, which will be 15 lap of the circuit.

The junior race, which is for those 18 and under, will see them race 48km.

While the terrain is generally flat with no real climbs, the expected winds and high temperatures will provide a strong challenge.

Fariman said he expects to see all the big teams like Team Corbusier, Saxon Racing and Viking participating.

“Unfortunately, we do not know as yet who they will be sending,” he added.

The make up of the race has been effected by the Padawan Nature Challenge which is scheduled for the same day.

The Padawan event also have a biking portion which has reportedly attracted some of the top cyclists in Kuching.

Sonamu, being the main sponsor, is expected to send their top talents like Andree Pausek for the Open race

where he is expected to face Corbusier’s Laurel Lauridsen Adrian.

Corbusier’s Mohd. Faiz, winner of the April race, is expected to be joined by their top junior Garry Tay, who won bronze in the Perlis Sukma’s mountain bike XCO event.

Sonamu’s Wan Haikal and Wan Niezal is expected to pose a strong challenge to Tay and co. as they try again to sweep the podium.

It is learnt that some of the juniors may also opt to race the Open race after their event as there is no age-limit for the category.