Wattana Chantanaworanon, deputy mayor of Pattaya chaired the Pattaya Mountain Bike Challenge 2016 held on Pratamnak Hill on Sunday, May 1. The event was organized by Pattaya City, the Pattaya Mountain Bike Association and the Cyclist Association of Rayong.
Underlining the growing popularity of the sport in Thailand, over 400 people turned up to take part in the competition although originally the field was supposed to be restricted to 300 riders. The event was separated into a total of 19 categories and age groups and the organizers set a typically testing course with a mixture of off-road technical challenges and steep climbs on the asphalt.
Pattaya councilor Nakorn Polook-in (centre) presents trophies to winners in the boys (12-15) category.
The winner of the men’s Open division was Kirathi Sookprasart while Tida Panyawan from Koh Samui took the women’s title. Prapot Thaelampua won the Fat Bike category race and later commented that it was great to take part in the competition and also have the chance to promote the fat bikes (big wheels), which people are starting to find popular as they are easy to ride and can easily go through sand and over uneven ground with their 4.8 inch wide tyres.
Winners of each race category received 7,000 baht and a trophy while there were also cash prizes and trophies for the top four on the podium. Those finishing in 5th – 10th places received gifts for participating like t-shirts and other cycling accessories.
Fat bikes cross the start line during the Pattaya Mountain Bike Challenge 2016.
Organizers laid out a typically testing course for the cyclists.
