Mountain Biking Competition To Promote Langkawi

LANGKAWI,Aug 8 (Bernama) -- The TM Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge 2010, here, can be made a world cycling calender event, hence further promoting this tourist island. Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the championship fully focused on Langkawi compared to the Le Tour de Langkawi which covered the whole country. "The response is encouraging with more than 800 local and foreign participants," he told a press conference at the end of the endurance event at Harbour Park, Pantai Kok on Sunday.

World champion Morgan Pilley from the Netherlands, and Australian Lachlan Norris were among the 10 world's best who took part in the competition offering prizes amounting to RM250,000. The other competitors were from Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Germany and Malaysia. Dr Mahathir said the championship which started on a small-scale had received participation beyond expectation. "This goes to prove that the challenge has many enthusiasts based on the response and would be made an annual event like LTdL," he said. He hoped more racers from throughout the world would participate in the competition in future, and he suggested it be held on an alternate basis with Indonesia to attract tourists.