New round-island virtual ride for OCBC Cycle; online registration from Feb 14
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In this new category, participants must complete at least 120km around the island in a single attempt within 24 hours from May 3 to June 2.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
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SINGAPORE – A new Round Island Virtual Ride is among the highlights of the OCBC Cycle, which will take place on May 3 and 4.
In this new category, which has only 100 slots, participants must complete at least 120km around the island in a single attempt within 24 hours from May 3 to June 2.
They must also submit ride details such as date, distance and duration – recorded by a fitness tracker – the ride map, along with a picture of themselves and their bicycle.
Organisers said this category was created following feedback from post-event surveys, in which respondents said they enjoy “long-distance virtual rides on an own-time-own-target basis”.
The 100km Virtual Ride, a regular feature of recent editions, will continue. In this category, cyclists also complete the distance with their own routes within four separate rides, with indoor rides also applicable.
Other changes for the mass cycling event in 2025 include an increase from 1,000 to 1,500 slots for the Foldie Ride by Brompton category, which debuted in 2024 and was sold out in the first month.
Back for its 17th edition, organisers are targeting 7,000 participants in nine categories.
The main categories – The Straits Times Ride (20km), the Sportive Ride (40km) and the Foldie Ride by Brompton (40km) – will take place on closed roads on May 4, with landmarks such as the Benjamin Sheares Bridge, Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay along the route.
This year’s event launch will be done fully online, with registration opening on ocbccycle.com
There is also a launch weekend promotion till Feb 16, where cyclists can sign up at discounted rates of up to 35 per cent off normal registration prices.
During this promotion, 155 cyclists who sign up for the three main categories will be picked to win prizes ranging from staycation packages to cycling equipment.
Early-bird rates will apply from Feb 17 till March 16, with registration closing on April 21.
Singapore Cycling Federation (SCF) president Hing Siong Chen said he is glad to see the inclusion of another virtual ride.
He added: “This is a step in the right direction for virtual sports, including cycling e-sports, which has seen a phenomenal global growth in interest and participation. On the local front, the virtual rides complement SCF’s ongoing efforts to create a conducive, competitive and healthy space for cycling e-sports.
“The round-island ride will provide an outdoor riding challenge as the ride distance of at least 120km needs to be completed in a single ride within a day.
“In addition, with all the attractive lucky draw prizes, such as business-class tickets to Japan, a Brompton bicycle and a cycling trip for two to London, I’m sure it will be well received by participants.”
The Speedway Championship categories (South-east Asia, corporate and club) will also be combined into the OCBC Cycle Speedway Open Championship, which will be held on May 3.
Teams of four cyclists will compete for a top prize of $3,000, with second and third place taking $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.
Organisers are also expecting around 400 young cyclists and their families to take part in the kids category on May 3, which will finish at the National Stadium for the first time after flag-off on Stadium Drive.
Avid rider Delvin Lee, 42, said he is considering taking part with his two sons – aged eight and five – after introducing them to cycling in 2024.
He said: “I might sign up with my kids. Let them try closed-road cycling.
“I think this is good exposure for them.”
Early-bird registration fees for each kid start from $25 for kids between two and five years old and $38 for kids between five and 12 years old. In the category for an adult with up to four children, the early-bird prices range from $72 to $186.
Early-bird fees are priced at $50 for the Straits Times Ride, $89 for the Sportive and Foldie Ride, $21 for the 100km Virtual Ride and $36 for the Round Island Virtual Ride.
OCBC group chief executive Helen Wong said: “We have always leveraged OCBC Cycle to promote and support cycling as a sport for health and fitness, and a social activity for community bonding.
“With 1,300km of cycling paths under Singapore’s Islandwide Cycling Network programme by 2030, we believe interest in the sport can only grow.”
Melvyn Teoh is a sports journalist at The Straits Times.
