Gran Fondo Hong Kong cycling event on hold due to Occupy protests
Organisers say there was no time to arrange a new route after series of blockages on one road
The Tourism Board has decided to put a cycling competition on hold due to the Occupy protests.
Chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok said the tourism promotion body would scrap the event scheduled for December but might hold it next year.
The first Gran Fondo Hong Kong was planned with three categories - professional, semi-professional and amateur - covering distances of 60km, 40km and 20km, respectively.
One route was planned from Lung Wo Road, Central, through the Western Harbour Tunnel to the Tsing Ma Bridge and back to Central. Another would have started from Lung Wo Road, but with a shorter distance.
Lung Wo Road has been blocked by Occupy protesters on several nights during the almost five-week protest.
Lam told Commercial Radio yesterday that the Occupy protests necessitated a new route but there was not enough time to arrange one. "It would be a big problem if we had to cancel the event after inviting overseas athletes," he added.
Hong Kong Cycling Association chairman Leung Hung-tak said the decision would be a disappointment for both cycling fans and athletes.