KUCHING: The Siol International Mountain Bike Challenge (SIMBC) has entered its 10th edition with a historic upgrade to UCI Class 1 status, a recognition that Sarawak Cycling Association’s President, Irawan Sudarsono, hopes will be sustained for years to come.
Irawan said securing the C1 classification from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) was the highest milestone the competition could achieve.
“What I want to see is this maintained in the future. If we can continue to keep C1 status for the next editions, that would be the best. You don’t want it to drop back to C2,” he said.
He added that the introduction of the C1 category this year has attracted more international riders than ever before, a development that boosts Sarawak’s reputation as a cycling destination and strengthens its sports tourism profile.
“With more international riders, it bodes well for our sports tourism. Last year, only the people who are aware of it or people closer to this region such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore.
“Now we also have participants from Japan, Chinese Taipei and China. It’s growing in that sense,” he told Sarawak Tribune today at the Siol Mountain Bike Track.
Additionally, Irawan said Sarawak’s unique tropical conditions set the event apart from other competitions around the world, offering athletes both a challenge and an opportunity to experience something new.
“The track is challenging because of our humidity and tropical weather. If you compare it to Japan or Europe, where the climate is drier, it is very different.
“Riders who want to prepare for similar conditions in other parts of the world will find this one of the best places to race,” he said.
Irawan expressed his appreciation for the support from Kuching North City Commission (DBKU), the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED), and the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP), stressing the importance of continued collaboration to keep SIMBC on the UCI and Malaysian cycling calendars.
“On that note, now that the event is part of the tourism calendar, we definitely plan to expand invites to other parts of the world.
“Of course, challenges such as timing and travel costs remain, but once word spreads of how good this competition is, we believe more and more riders will come,” he said.
This year’s SIMBC will see 162 riders from seven countries competing across multiple categories, including Cross Country Olympic (XCO) – Class 1 (C1), Downhill Individual (DHI) – Class 2 (C2), Cross Country Short Course (XCC) – Class 3 (C3), Cross Country Eliminator (XCE) – Class 3 (C3), and Cross Country Relay (XCR) – a team relay.
