Mawan (third left) and Mohd Fadzli (second left) unveiling the Tour of Sarawak 2016 logo after the press conference. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa
KUCHING: The inaugural ‘Tour of Sarawak’ cycling event, to take place in January next year, is set to attract about 20 teams from across the globe.
To be held over five days from Miri to Kuching spanning 814 kilometres, the Tour of Sarawak 2016 is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) as a 2.2 race and part of the UCI Asia Tour calendar.
The stages of the tour – from north heading south – has been earmarked as Miri-Bintulu, Bintulu-Sibu, Sarikei-Betong, Sri Aman-Serian and Serian-Kuching.
Malaysia is expected to send four teams including a special team from Sarawak to compete with those from Great Britain, Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, Iran, South Africa, the Philippines and Hong Kong among others.
The Ministry of Social Development has endorsed the international event which will be held from Jan 27-31.
The event is organised by Fadz Industries Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Rakan Bestnye Sarawak or commonly known as Rakan BN Sarawak.
The Tour of Sarawak 2016 is themed “Sports Tourism as the next Big Thing”.
“The Ministry is very pleased that an event of such magnitude is being held in Sarawak.
“Apart from promoting the state and attracting tourism, this event will be very interactive in a way that it can forge better relations between the whole nation especially among those involved.
“We fully support the initiative to organise the event here. Not only it will create positive economic impact, cycling can promote a healthy lifestyle,” Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom told reporters at his office at Bangunan Baitulmakmur in Petra Jaya yesterday.
Also present were Fadz Industries managing director Mohd Fadzli Mat Yusof and event consultant Nik Hisham Nik Aziz.
Mawan, who is also event chairman, added the state has many exciting places to offer, where visitors will discover lots of exciting new experience.
Given the publicity, he believed that Sarawak can be portrayed as one of the best destinations to the outside world.
“On the social aspect, this type of event can promote solidarity in the sense that it can become a reach out point to distract people away from all negative elements or problems. This type of event should be encouraged as it would go a long way to bring the whole nation together,” he continued while hoping that the event would grow and able to become an annual affair.
Meanwhile, Nik Hashim deemed the Tour of Sarawak as a “cycling race close to nature”. To be held through the state’s green landscape, one could experience the vast culture and awesome nature that Sarawak has to offer while enjoying the event.
During the tour, the overall champion (race leader) will wear yellow jersey and King of the Mountain will use the red jersey. Sprint champion will be accorded the blue jersey while the best Malaysian rider will spot a pink jersey.