FIRST EVER RHB WCE CENTURY RIDE ATTRACTS OVER 3,000 CYCLISTS

IPOH, May 19 (Bernama) -- Over 3,000 cyclists from across the country and the globe, some from as far as Argentina, rode towards the finishing line after traversing one of the nation's scenic cycling routes on the inaugural RHB WCE Century Ride, Malaysia’s first closed highway century ride in Sitiawan near here today.

The RHB Banking Group (RHB) in a statement today said in partnership with the West Coast Expressway Sdn Bhd (WCE), the inaugural RHB WCE Century Ride held in conjunction with Visit Perak Year 2024, offered four routes; 160 kilometres (km), 90km, 28km, and 14km along the WCE E32 to cyclists of different fitness levels.

The event was flagged off this morning by Ministry of Works secretary-gemeral  Datuk Seri Hasnol Zam Zam Ahmad at the starting line at the Lekir Toll Plaza at 6.45 am.

RHB Group managing director/Group chief executive officer Mohd Rashid Mohamad in the statement said The RHB-WCE Century Ride exemplifies RHB's commitment to empowering Malaysians to ride for good.

"Our inclusive categories and secure routes (being on a closed highway) ensure that cyclists of all fitness levels, ages and genders can safely participate with peace of mind, furthering our mission of promoting healthy living and community engagement," he said.

Mohd Rashid said in addition, the RHB WCE Century Ride serves as a catalyst for the cycling economic ecosystem, providing a platform for local businesses to thrive by connecting them with enthusiasts, fostering community ties, and supporting local tourism during the landmark Visit Perak Year 2024.

Meanwhile, WCE chief executive officer Lyndon Alfred Felix in the statement said the once-in-a-lifetime experience allowed cyclists to enjoy the scenic beauty of the newly completed WCE alignment, including the recently opened Taiping Selatan WCE Section 11.

"The success of the RHB WCE Century Ride 2024 signifies a major milestone for us since we began the operations of the West Coast Expressway in 2019 with three sections in Perak and one in Selangor. We are grateful for the immense support we received from our partners, stakeholders, volunteers, and local authorities.

"We look forward to hosting more of such events in the future, promoting healthy lifestyle and tourism, while showcasing the scenic beauty of our expressway," he said.

According to the statement, over 830 cyclists had the opportunity to experience the 160km century route, tackling the challenging climbs and cruising down the exhilarating descent with cash prizes awarded to the top three winners for each category under the 160km Century Ride and 90km routes.

The RHB WCE Century Ride 2024 aimed to promote cycling tourism in Perak and showcase the scenic beauty of the West Coast Expressway alignment.

-- BERNAMA