About 500 cyclists from around the world set out from Pattaya for a 12-city tour of Thailand to honor HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for her 63rd birthday.
Chonburi Gov. Pakarathorn Thienchai, top Pattaya-area officials and the heads of the Cycling Association of Thailand and Cycling and Sports Association, fired off the starting gun for members of 30 cycling clubs from Thailand, Europe, Asia and Africa at city hall on April 1.
The April 1-10 bike tour took cyclists 1,354 kilometers through Pattaya, Buri Ram, Chanthaburi, Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Lopburi, Nakhon Nayak, Maha Sarakham, Prachin Buri, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo and Saraburi.
The winner was set to receive a massive HRH Princess Sirindhorn Cup to keep for a year until next year’s trek.
The ride is intended to honor the princess on her birthday as well as prepare Thai cyclists for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.