SERIAN – The inaugural Serian Cycling Challenge 1.0 Road Race has been hailed as a resounding success, drawing competitors from across the globe to this Sarawak district.
The event, which marked a first for the area, saw significant participation from international cyclists hailing from Canada, Indonesia, and Brunei, alongside a strong local contingent.
A total of 87 riders competed across four primary categories: Men’s, Veteran’s, Master’s, and Women’s. The robust turnout has been praised by officials for demonstrating the event’s potential to become a fixture on the regional sporting calendar.
Sarawak’s Minister for Education, Innovation and Skills Development, Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, expressed his encouragement at the response.
He noted that the diverse origins of the participants, from multiple countries and throughout Sarawak, provided strong motivation for the organisers, namely the Serian Resident Office and the Samarahan Cycling Association.
The minister conveyed these remarks during a recent adjournment ceremony, adding his hope that such community-driven programmes would continue to receive broad support in the future.
The demanding 102-kilometre road race produced a clear set of champions. In the premier Men’s Category, victory was seized by Laurel Lauridsen Adrian of the Ghost Speed Racing Team.
He was followed across the line by Azrul Aiman and Ong Zhi Jia, both representing Team Buceros, who secured second and third place respectively.
The Veteran Men’s Category was won by Mohd Nor Umardi Rosdi of the Tugau Vaie Cycling Team. The podium was completed by Rakhmadhani from the SOSNJ Team in second, with Kim Thai Chai of Masterpiece taking third.
For the Men’s Master Category, the top honour went to Zulkifli Ramli from the GRBCC Team, with Silas Michael (Giant Racing Team) and Masri Gidi (SOSNJ Team) finishing in second and third.
In the Women’s Category, Nurfaraain Nabiela Abdullah Hafiz, also of Tugau Vaie Cycling Team, claimed the champion’s title. Lin Wei Na from the Giant Racing Team finished in a strong second position.
Demonstrating exceptional form, Laurel Lauridsen Adrian achieved a notable double victory by also winning the special SCC Sprint and the SCC King of the Mountain (KOM) classifications.
The cycling challenge was held in conjunction with the wider Sarawak X-Tive programme, which aims to promote an active lifestyle.
The event was further enlivened by an aerobics session that involved all attendees after the race had commenced.
A separate Aerobathon competition, themed around contemporary sportswear and featuring ten teams, was also noted as being the first of its kind to be staged in Serian.
The event was attended by several local dignitaries, including Serian Division Resident Caroline Cleophas Joseph, President of the Samarahan Bicycle Association Abang Sudirman Abang Indi, and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Sarawak Entrepreneurship Development Dolhadi Mazuki.
