Hundreds of Cyclists from 29 Countries Explore the Beauty of Bintan Through an International Racing Event
The OCBC Singapore National Championship 2025 once again brought the spirit of sport tourism to Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, Indonesia. A total of 286 cyclists from 29 countries competed along the beautiful routes in Bintan. They were enthusiastic about participating in the three-day cycling event. The event started on Friday (20/6/2025) and ended on Sunday (22/6/2025).
Head of the Bintan Culture and Tourism Office, Arief Sumarsono, officially released the cyclists. The release took place in Bandar Seri Bentan on Sunday morning. He proudly announced that the number of participants this year has increased significantly from the previous edition two years ago. According to his records, at that time there were only 139 cyclists from 20 countries.
“We’re truly grateful that Bintan was trusted again to host this event. With more participants, international arrivals also increase. This shows that Bintan is gaining more global recognition,” Arief said with pride.
Cyclists Embrace Nature While Racing Through Bintan
The OCBC Singapore National Championship delivered more than just a competition. It allowed international athletes to experience the natural beauty of Bintan — from lush tropical forests and pristine beaches to local cultural villages. The route took them from Bandar Seri Bentan, through Pantai Trikora, and into Pengudang, ending at Bintan Buyu.
“This is more than just a race. It’s a journey that connects athletes with nature. Without the noise of the city, Bintan offers a refreshing and unique racing experience,” Arief added.
Not only that, this event features various categories of competitions. Starting from individual races to group races, covering a distance of 10 to 120 kilometers. In addition, cyclists capture memories, take photos, and create stories to share with the world. The theme: everything starts from every pedal stroke on the land of Bintan.
Bintan Becomes a Magnet for Global Sport Tourism
Without spending a huge budget, Bintan successfully hosted an international-scale event. Each cyclist brought an average of three team officials. So almost 1,000 international guests are staying, dined, and shopped locally for nearly a full week.
“This is the true impact of sport tourism. One event can energize many sectors — tourism, local economy, and even international branding,” Arief explained.
Furthermore, Arief expressed his appreciation to all parties involved. Even special words to the Singapore Cycling Federation and the Indonesian Cycling Association (PB ISSI). In addition, he also expressed his gratitude to all athletes and committees who have contributed to the success of the event.
He hopes that the OCBC Singapore National Championship can continue as an annual event. This event brings benefits to the people of Bintan. As well as showing the charm of this island on the global stage.
by: Antara
