Today Online: OCBC Cycle Singapore, Malaysia; next, Cycle Asia with Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia

"Cycling boost with launch of Asian circuit," by Philip Goh. 18 Jan 2013.

KUALA LUMPUR - It started in 2009 with OCBC Cycle Singapore and was followed two years later by its Malaysian equivalent.

Yesterday, Singapore-based event management and marketing company Spectrum Worldwide announced a further expansion into the region for its popular community cycling carnival with the addition of three new stops - Indonesia, the Philippines and Australia - under a new Cycle Asia banner.

It also hopes to expand the Cycle Asia network to Cambodia, Hong Kong, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam in the next three years.

At its announcement in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, it was also revealed that a Cycle Indonesia is being planned for this June at Sentul City outside Jakarta, and a Cycle Philippines in Manila in October.

Chris Robb, Managing Director of Spectrum Worldwide, told TODAY the expansion caters to the growth of cycling across Asia and meets the demand for events from recreational and serious cyclists.

"The experience for participants will be similar to that of OCBC Cycle Singapore and Malaysia, where there will be community rides for kids and adults and events for serious riders," said Robb.

"Our festival format of mixing both amateur and professional-elite elements, combined with a Cycling and Lifestyle Village, a carnival and premier hospitality, has provided a growing number of cyclists with a fantastic platform to enjoy the sport."

The Gold Coast Festival of Cycling in September, organised by three-time Tour de France green jersey winner and festival ambassador Robbie McEwen, will also come under the Cycle Asia banner.

"Robbie is a big fan of Singapore; he sees the synergy of us being able to cross-promote his event on the Gold Coast, which is well-organised and has a great vibe about it," said Robb.

"It's great for us to be able to help encourage people to go to Robbie's event and, increasingly, cycling has bigger tourist implications.

"For example, we're working together with the Singapore Tourism Board to find ways to encourage more cyclists to come to Singapore and this network will provide opportunity for people to travel around the region and have family holidays (structured around cycling)."

Singapore Cycling Federation President Suhaimi Said believes Cycle Asia can boost the growth of elite cycling in the region.

"We can expand on the pro-criteriums to have nation- and Asia-wide criteriums to enhance the carnival beyond its community role," he said.

"We can also further strengthen the Asian Cycling Confederation, with these carnivals supporting the cycling events organised by the various national governing bodies in the region."