Cycling: 14-hour wait to be first in line at OCBC Cycle 2017 launch pays off with $888 worth of prizes

Participants racing in the rain during the Men's Open category of OCBC Cycle National Road Championship at Seletar North Link on May 21, 2017. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

SINGAPORE - Cycling enthusiast Anthony Lim queued for 16 hours to ensure he was first in line on Friday (July 7) to register for the OCBC Cycle 2017 which was launched at Orchard Gateway.

For his perseverance, the 36-year-old project engineer who cycles 50 to 60 km weekly was rewarded with $888.90 worth of gifts and a 25 per cent discount off his registration fee.

He said: "It's been 14 hours since I've been in the queue, I was here since 10pm last night (Thursday). I came early to get the first prize.

"This is the fourth time I've been part of OCBC Cycle, mainly because I like the challenge of the activity."

He was among hundreds who turned up throughout Friday to register for the Nov 18-19 event which will be held at the Singapore Sports Hub.

Among the guests were Samuel Tsien, group chief executive officer (CEO) of OCBC Bank, Lim Teck Yin, CEO of Sport Singapore, Jeffrey Goh, president of Singapore Cycling Federation, Marc Lim, news editor of The Straits Times and Wong Wei Kong, editor of The Business Times.

Tsien said: "I am excited to unveil OCBC Cycle 2017, with our new race, new elements and new prizes. OCBC has been a proud sponsor of this one of a kind cycling fiesta since 2009 - an event that captures the spirit of community participation in a healthy exercise that takes us on a ride on roads that are closed just for us."

There are three non-competitive events this year, featuring the Mighty Savers, the Kids and Family Ride, the Sportive Ride and The Straits Times Ride.

This year's edition will see a new corporate race category called the OCBC Cycle Speedway Corporate Championship.

Two corporate races will be held on Sept 2 and 30 on the track of the National Stadium to pick the top-six corporate teams for the OCBC Cycle Speedway Corporate Championship final on Nov 18.

Online registration starts on July 10 at 10am and can be done at www.ocbccycle.com.

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