A total prize money of over half a million Ringgit Malaysia (US$150,000) is up for grabs at the Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge (LIMBC), making it the biggest prize money purse in the world for any mountain bike (MTB) event.
The prize money is a lucrative increase of US$25,000 from last yearâs edition, with the objective to attract more participation from local and regional MTB enthusiasts across five categories â Menâs Elite, Menâs Open, Womenâs Elite, Menâs Master and Senior Menâs Master.
The competition is also set to offer a refreshed outlook for weekend warriors or novice riders aged between 30 to 39 years old, with the opportunity to seize the prize money via the newly introduced Menâs Open category and maintaining the Menâs Elite category exclusively for National, State and Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) ranked international riders.
For last yearâs edition, approximately 250 weekend warriors and top ranked UCI international riders competed in LIMBC and another 2,000 MTB enthusiasts participated in the Jamboree Fun Ride.
âFor LIMBC 2014, we are intensifying our efforts to attract more Asian riders. At the moment, thereâs every possibility a large contingent from top professional Asian riders will ride on the gruelling LIMBC tracks in October this year. We were informed there are many top MTB riders in Asia who want to race in Langkawi following the success story of Kohei Yamamoto (Japan) of Team Specialized Racing who clinched the Menâs overall champion last year,â said Datuk Malik Mydin, Chief Executive Officer of Human Voyage, the organiser of LIMBC.
Last year, the tournament witnessed the first ever overall champion from Asia – Yamamoto (Japan) of the Team Specialized Racing after donning the yellow jersey for three days, an arena traditionally dominated by top ranked riders from Europe.
Lea Davison (USA) of the Specialized Racing Team also successfully defended her title in the Womenâs Open after emerging as the overall winner in the previous year.
