100 top international riders and local stars to take part in Cyclothon

About 100 top international cyclists are joining this year's Sun Hung Kai Properties Hong Kong Cyclothon on Sunday, including Olympic medalist Sarah Lee Wai-sze and track cycling star Ceci Lee Sze-wing who will take part in the 50 kilometers and 30km rides starting in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The Tourism Board said yesterday over 5,000 riders have applied for 50km and 30km rides in the Hong Kong Cyclothon this year and the UCI 1.1 Road Race will also return to the city after five years with 15 cycling teams from Australia, Italy, Malaysia, Thailand, Mainland China and Hong Kong competing for championship.

The Sunday cycling gala will start with the 50km ride at 5.20 am. Cyclists will ride over "three tunnels and three bridges", including Tsing Ma Bridge, Ting Kau Bridge, Stonecutters Bridge, Cheung Ching Tunnel, Nam Wan Tunnel and Eagle's Nest Tunnel.

The 30km ride will start at 8.10 am.

The police will divert traffics and close roads in phases from 1am on the event day and reopen all the roads before 5.45pm. Vehicles parked on closed roads will be towed away without prior warning, police said.

The race will also welcome cyclists and teams from the Greater Bay Area in the Men's Open and Women's Open for the first time after the pandemic. Cycling experts around GBA will compete in a criterium in a series race in Guangzhou, Dongguan, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Hong Kong and Shaoguan.

HKTB said they expect the event to promote exchanges between GBA cities and explore the possibility of staging larger-scale sports events in future.

"This is the first time that tourists can come to Hong Kong and enjoy this sports mega event after the border reopening," said Raymond Chan Chun-man, general manager of the event and product development of the HKTB. He said the board has already promoted the event in the mainland and overseas to attract local tourist groups to Hong Kong.

Visitors can witness the UCI 1.11 Road Race at the spectator stand on Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade, with seats available on a first-come, first-served basis. People may also watch the competition in other four recommended places - Mody Lane, Mody Road Garden, the waterfront section of Salisbury Road and the finishing at Salisbury Road opposite to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

A total of 144 bus and 15 green minibus routes will be diverted, truncated, suspended or have their stops relocated in phases to facilitate road closure arrangements until the reopening of roads on Sunday. The Transport Department appealed to the public to plan their travel ahead and use railway services as far as possible.