OCBC Cycle is back with new format!
Cycling enthusiasts at the brand new OCBC Cycle 2015 will be in for a treat, as a new high-speed, spectator-friendly race format called the OCBC Cycle Speedway Championships is unveiled. It promises to be a favourite among participants and fans alike!
Comprising the OCBC Cycle Speedway Club Championship and the OCBC Cycle Speedway SEA Championship, this new relay-format race category is part of the inaugural OCBC Cycle 2015. It will debut on Saturday, August 29th, at the Singapore Sports Hub, and will see the best riders from the region – as well as top athletes from the local cycling clubs – pit their skills against one another.
The new format will see four-cyclist teams ride a total of 10 laps in pairs around a fast 1km course. The first two cyclists will ride five laps before the second pairing finishes off the remaining laps. To derive the official race timing, a team is clocked from the start to when its third rider crosses the finish line.
The OCBC Cycle Speedway SEA Championship will see teams from Southeast Asian nations battling out in two qualifying heats, each pitting five teams against each other. The top three teams from each heat will progress to the semifinal, where the six teams will battle it out in a single round to determine the three finalists. The finalists will then face off to determine which team will be crowned the Champion of Southeast Asia, taking home a cash prize of S$6,000. The second and third-placed finishers will win S$4,000 and S$2,000 respectively.
In the OCBC Cycle Speedway Club Championship race, a total of 15 local cycling teams will compete in a similar format. There will be three qualifying heats involving five teams each, with the top two teams in each heat will progress to the semifinal. Cash prizes of S$800, S$600 and S$400, will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed teams respectively. The three winning teams will also receive Vertix Velo wireless cycling headsets worth $268 each.
The winners from both championships will be invited to ride in Sunday’s Champions Wave at the head of the mass-participation Sportive Ride.
Besides the OCBC Cycle Speedway Championships, cycling enthusiasts have a range of categories to participate in over the two days of cycling action. Kicking off the event on Saturday morning, August 29th, are the Mighty Savers® Kids Rides catering to youngsters aged 2 to 12 years old. The OCBC Cycle Speedway Championships will take place after these rides.
The action will continue on Sunday morning with the mass participation rides – The Sportive Ride (about 42km) and The Straits Times Ride (about 23km). These rides will offer individuals and corporations the priceless opportunity to be among the first to pedal across the finish line at the National Stadium on two wheels.
Mr Samuel Tsien, Group CEO, OCBC Bank said: “We are excited to officially launch OCBC Cycle 2015 today. Over the past 6 months, working closely with our 17 partners and the event organizer, we have been busy putting together what we are proud to consider a truly unique mass cycling event. Besides a new venue, this will also be the first time that participants of a sporting event in Singapore can enjoy a slew of lead-up and CSR activities. In another first, we are introducing a competitive category for the more serious cyclists here that will mirror the one for regional cycling professionals; the format for the OCBC Cycle Speedway Championships will see teams square off in knock-out rounds of intense competition. It will be a spectacle to thrill any audience.”
“From little tots to grandpas, from casual cyclists to professionals, OCBC Cycle is for everyone who loves to pedal. As the community saddles up in preparation, I too am gearing up – at least, to flag off riders at the National Stadium!”
SG50 Specials
In conjunction with the SG50 celebrations, all 50-year-old participants automatically qualify for a lucky draw. Fifty winners will each win a New Moon goodie bag worth more than S$100, consisting of New Moon New Zealand Abalone, New Moon Birds’ Nest and New Moon Essence of Chicken. These winners will also have their registration fees refunded.
Those interested can register at www.ocbccycle.com
