August 02, 2012 (Kuala Lumpur) – The course for this year’s Langkawi International Mountainbike Challenge (LIMBC) on Oct 15-20, has been described as unique, offering a combination of highly technical terrain with the natural jungles of Langkawi as a spectacular backdrop.

LIMBC technical consultant Simon Burney, on his second trip to the islands to inspect the course, said the six-day race would pose a stiff challenge to the riders.

“We are in the midst of finding new things as the basis for our final layout of the actual course but in general, it’s a really great course. It offers many unique features and a variety of challenges,” said Burney, who is also a UCI Technical Delegate and the UCI Sports Coordinator for Cross Country Mountain Bike.

Burney added a successful LIMBC 2012 would be crucial in strengthening Langkawi’s bid to host one round of the UCI MTB Marathon Series in 2013 or 2014.

“This year’s race will come under great scrutiny. Among the technical considerations and the overall organisation of the race we hope to see a number of the world’s top 20 riders participating,” said Burney.

Following the successful back-to-back editions of LIMBC in 2010 and 2011, race organisers Human Voyage is aiming to bring one round of the UCI MTB Marathon series and the UCI MTB World Championships to Langkawi in the near future.

Asia has yet to stage any round of the major UCI Mountain Bike series.  The 2012 UCI World Cup Cross Country Series and UCI Marathon MTB Series has so far visited venues in South Africa, Belgium, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, UK, Italy, France, Croatia, Canada and USA, with remaining rounds in Latvia, Switzerland and Austria.

Burney was accompanied by eight-time British champion and former Olympian, Nick Craig, who was excited to be given the privilege to test the Langkawi course.

“Although some parts of the course are still under construction, my impression is that it offers a very nice technical terrain, with dirt roads and a jungle setting thrown into the mix.”

“The jungle is a big difference compared to the other races around the world. But it is very exciting indeed, with the opportunity of riding around nature too good to miss,” said Craig, one of only two cyclists in history to compete in both the Men’s Road Race and the Men’s Cross-Country Mountain Bike at the same Olympic Games, which he did in Sydney 2000.  The only other cyclist to accomplish the feat was Thomas Frischknecht of Switzerland at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

This year’s LIMBC will flag off on Monday Oct 15 with a prologue – an individual time trial of 2.4km at the Eagle Square,  followed by Stage 1, a 65km round the island race.

Stage 2 is a 45km race from East to West Langkawi, followed by a gruelling Stage 3, the 87km Langkawi Marathon.  Stage 4 is an Olympic distance Cross Country race around Langkawi GeoPark followed by Stage 5, a stunning beach front finale around a short circuit at Pantai Kok.

LIMBC 2012 offers a total prize money of US$125,000 (RM400,000) and is open to four categories of rider – Male Open (ages 19-39 years), Female Open (ages 19 years and above), Masters Men (ages 40-49years) and Senior Masters Men (50years and above)

In 2011, Germany’s Karl Platt and Switzerland’s Nathalie Schneitter clinched the overall victory in the men’s elite and women’s elite categories, respectively.

Race schedule:

Monday 15th October
Prologue – Individual Time Trial
– 2.4km – Eagle Square/Lagenda Park
– 0800hrs Rider Confirmation Opens
– 1100hrs Rider Confirmation Closes
– 1100hrs Rider Briefing Commences
– 1200hrs Rider Briefing Ends
– 1501hrs First Rider Starts (then at 20second intervals)
– 1748hrs Last Rider Starts
– 1752hrs Last Rider Finishes
– 1805hrs Prize Presentation

Tuesday 16th October
Stage 1 – Langkawi Round Island (XCM)
65km – Eagle Square – Eagle Square
1000hrs Race Start – Men’s Open
1010hrs Race Start – Women’s Open
1020hrs Race Start – Men’s Masters & Senior Men’s Masters
1500hrs Prize Presentation

Wednesday 17th October
Stage 2 – Langkawi East to West (XCP)
45km – Eagle Square to Oriental Village
1100hrs Race Start – Men’s Open
1110hrs Race Start – Women’s Open
1120hrs Race Start – Men’s Masters and Senior Men’s Masters
1400hrs Prize Presentation

Thursday 18th October
Stage 3 – Langkawi Marathon (XCM)
Men’s Open 87km (3x29km loop)
Women, Masters & Senior Masters 58km (2x29km loop)
Oriental Village
0900hrs Race Start – Men’s Open
0905hrs Race Start – Women’s Open
0910hrs Race Start – Men’s Masters and Senior Men’s Master
1430hrs Prize Presentation

Friday 19th October
Stage 4 – Langkawi Geopark Cross-country (XCO)
Lap distance 4.5km – Oriental Village
0830hrs Race Start – Men’s Masters & Senior Masters – 75mins
1030hrs Race Start – Women’s Open – 90mins
12.30hrs Break for Friday Prayers
1445hrs Race Start – Men’s Open A – 90 mins
16450hrs  Race Start – Men’s Open B – 90mins
1830hrs  Prize Presentation

Saturday 20th October
Stage 5 – Pantai Kok Short Circuit (XCC)
Lap distance – 1.6km – Pantai Kok
1000hrs Race Start – Men’s Masters & Senior Masters – 30mins
1045hrs Public Entertainment – First Act
1130hrs Race Start – Women’s Open – 30mins
1230hrs Public Entertainment – Second Act
1330hrs Race Start – Men’s Open B – 30mins
1410hrs Public Entertainment – Third Act
1500hrs Race Start – Mens Open A – 30mins
1545hrs Prize Presentation
1600hrs Public Concert
1930hrs Farewell Dinner
2230hrs Dinner Ends