Siol Int’l Mountain Bike Challenge 2026 draws 250 riders, boosts Sarawak’s global cycling profile

Abdul Karim (centre) and others at the press conference of SIMBC 2026 at Baitul Makmur II in Petra Jaya on May 6, 2026.

By Dayangku Hidayatul
 
KUCHING, May 6: Bukit Siol is set to once again take centre stage in international mountain biking as 250 riders converge for the Siol International Mountain Bike Challenge 2026 (SIMBC 2026) from Aug 21 to 23, elevating Sarawak’s global visibility as the event, now among internationally sanctioned cycling competitions, will be broadcast beyond national coverage to international sports platforms.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the 11th edition of SIMBC has achieved a major breakthrough after being officially recognised under the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the Asian Continental Series (ACS), placing it firmly within the global cycling calendar.

“UCI is the world governing body for cycling. Once an event is recognised by UCI, it is already operating at an international standard,” he said during a press conference at Baitul Makmur II in Petra Jaya today.

He added that Kuching’s selection as the final leg of the ACS reflects strong international confidence in Sarawak’s capability to host world-class sporting events.

Abdul Karim also congratulated the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) and organisers for their consistent efforts, noting that such recognition is only achieved through years of proven delivery and organisational excellence.

He said the final-leg status further enhances Sarawak’s international exposure, with SIMBC 2026 set to reach audiences far beyond Malaysia through global sports broadcasting platforms.

The competition will feature multiple categories, including Cross-country Olympic (XCO), Cross-country Short Track (XCC), Cross-country Eliminator (XCE), Downhill (DHI), and Cross-country Relay (Mayor’s Trophy).

Races will be contested across Elite, Under-23 and Junior categories for both men and women, with new additions such as the Cross-country Olympic Youth category and Malaysia Closed Cross-country Eliminator (XCE), strengthening grassroots development and youth participation.

Abdul Karim highlighted that SIMBC remains the only Asian series event to feature the Downhill (DHI) discipline, describing it as one of the most extreme and highly anticipated categories.

“If you don’t have the guts, you won’t take part in downhill. You don’t go up, you only go down. And when you go down, you are jumping over quite a number of obstacles,” he said.
With a total prize pool of RM112,000, the event is expected to draw riders from Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei and Singapore.

He added that SIMBC is not only a competition, but also a platform for sports development, talent nurturing and tourism promotion.

As the final round of the UCI Asian Continental Series, the Kuching leg also carries added significance, as it will contribute to qualification points for the 2027 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

He said the continued success of SIMBC reinforces Kuching’s standing as a growing international destination for mountain biking.

Also present were DBKU Mayor Dato Hilmy Othman, Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts permanent secretary Morshidi Frederick, Sarawak Cycling Association (SCA) president and Malaysian National Cycling Federation vice president Irawan Sudarsono and SIMBC race director Abdul Hakeem Hossen. — DayakDaily