Over 80 participants take part in the event across 8 race categories, as national mountain biker Riyadh Hakim Lukman emerges victorious in the Men’s Elite category
PHOTO: SINGAPORE CYCLING FEDERATION (SCF)
Singapore, 21 June 2022 - The third mountain bike national championship event after the the cross-country short track (XCC) and cross-country Olympics (XCO), Downhill is a race against the clock in which riders negotiate a succession of fast and technical passages.
Held at Kent Ridge Bike Park, participants had to demonstrate courage as well as sharp technical and piloting skills in order to tackle tree roots, banked sections, bumps, jumps and other natural obstacles along the way.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE CYCLING FEDERATION (SCF)
This year’s race course was 500m long, comprising obstacles such as rock gardens, drops, berms and tabletops. More than 80 participants took part in the event across 8 race categories.
Race highlights
Fresh from winning national titles in the XCC and XCO Men’s Elite categories earlier this month, national mountain biker Riyadh Hakim Lukman (Burgeon MTB racing) emerged victorious as the Downhill national champion in the Men’s Elite category at the race, despite just having recovered from COVID-19.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE CYCLING FEDERATION (SCF)
There was tight racing in the Men’s Junior and Youth Categories, with less than three seconds separating the first and runner-up in both categories. Luke Wong (Team Twenty9er/Canyon), who had solid performances at the XCC and XCO races recently, fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a top downhill rider by clinching the domestic downhill national champion title in the Men’s Youth category.
Sports presenter and host Claire Jedrek, an avid mountain biker who only rode the Kent Ridge Bike Park trail a few times prior to the race, managed to finish 2nd in the Women’s Master category to become the domestic national champion for the downhill race.
Singapore Cycling Federation vice-president (mountain bike) Muhammad Faroz
Marzoki, 34, said:
“After a two year break, we finally return to Kent Ridge Bike Park to see some
Downhill action. It was a minute and a half long track with several elements of
technicalities, pushing the limits of the racers and their equipment.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE CYCLING FEDERATION (SCF)
We saw growth in participants from the women's and youths categories which
indicates a promising future of the sport.
Line choices may be limited and a slight diversion had to be done at the very last
minute. The community however, embraced the challenge, spreading positive vibes
and we were treated to an electric atmosphere with cheering and encouragement as
riders blazed down the race course.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE CYCLING FEDERATION (SCF)
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the mountain biking community for
their continuous support in the spirit of downhill racing.”
Full results from the event can be accessed at this link here.