2,500 join the ride in sixth edition of bank’s cycling event

Participants of OCBC Cycle Kuala Lumpur riding past several iconic landmarks in the city.

ABOUT 2,500 cyclists converged in the heart of Kuala Lumpur for the sixth edition of OCBC Cycle Kuala Lumpur, which returned after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It is dubbed “The City Ride” for the opportunity given to participants to ride through closed roads in the heart of the city and past many iconic landmarks.

The event was flagged off at 6.45am by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.

She was accompanied by OCBC Cycle KL 2023 implementation committee chairman Datuk Naim Mohamad, OCBC Ltd executive vice-president Koh Ching Ching and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Culture, Arts and Sports director Khairul Azmir Ahmad.

OCBC Al-Amin Bank Bhd chief executive officer Syed Abdull Aziz Syed Kechik joined the participants in the 42km ride, along with more than 350 of his colleagues.

The event, which sought to highlight sustainable practices, featured a recycling-themed percussion performance which got the crowd pumped up before the race started.

Some participants rode the 42km route while the leisure cyclists opted for the 21km ride.

Making its debut was The KL Mayor’s Ride for teams of 10 from corporations, ministries and agencies, over a 42km distance.

Participants cycled along Jalan Raja, Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Perak, Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Sultan Ismail Jalan Conlay, Jalan Stonor, Jalan Kia Peng, Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Ampang, Jalan Putra,Jalan Tun Ismail, Jalan Sultan Salahuddin, Jalan Kuching towards to Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Kinabalu, Jalan Sultan Hishamud-din and Jalan Raja before returning to Dataran Merdeka.

“It is heartening to see 2,500 cyclists here.

“I’m sure everyone was excited about being able to cycle safely on closed roads again.

“We are happy to have provided this platform for the sixth time and are also excited about the conscious move to make the event more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

“This means there was less use of plastics and greater respect for the preservation of our surroundings,” said Syed Abdull Aziz.

Naim said he was pleased with the level of participation.

“It is pleasing to see such a huge turnout, including participants from more than 20 different nationalities.”