Hong Kong Cyclothon returns for fourth year, complete with final round of elite Hammer Series

More than 5,800 cyclists will take part in races along Hong Kong’s harbourfront in October, as 11 internationally renowned teams face off in a special one-day finale of a global road race series.

The Hong Kong Cyclothon, organised by the Tourism Board and sponsored by Sun Hung Kai Properties, will return to the city for its fourth year on October 14. The races will range from the intensive 50km and 30km rides to the leisurely family fun ride and rides for young people.

This year’s showpiece event will be the grand finale of the Hammer Series, a team-based road cycling competition made up of three races over three days in Norway and the Netherlands, that took place in May and June. Hong Kong will host a one-day showdown event for the championship. Eleven UCI WorldTour teams from the United States, Germany, Belgium, Australia, the Netherlands, Britain and the United Arab Emirates are set to compete.

Tourism board chairman Peter Lam Kin-ngok said the showpiece race would boost the city’s international exposure.

“More than half of all UCI WorldTour cycling teams are going to participate in a race here [in Hong Kong],” Lam said. “The last two stops of the Hammer Series had more than 7 million online viewers worldwide. With more international coverage, I am confident it will reinforce Hong Kong’s position as the events capital of Asia.”

Alongside the top cyclists, professionals, amateurs, families and children will also be able to enjoy a ride along the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade.

The 50km route will go through three tunnels and across three bridges on its way from Tsim Sha Tsui, including the Tsing Ma Bridge and the Eagle’s Nest Tunnel.

Roads will be closed for the races, but organisers said traffic to and from the airport would not be affected as the Tsing Ma bridge would only partially close, before reopening fully at 7.15am.

Most of the other affected roads will reopen at 11am, except those in Tsim Sha Tsui and Tsim Sha Tsui East, which will reopen at 6pm.

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Those interested in joining can register online from this Saturday at 10am on a first come, first served basis. Part of the enrolment fee will be donated to the needy.