The first-ever Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium is set to dazzle the city, with a star-studded line-up of cyclists making an appearance at the event from 29-30 October. Four-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome and cycling brothers Antonio and Vincenzo Nibali are among the riders who will battle for glory on a specially designed street circuit in the heart of the city. Spanish cycling great, Alejandro Valverde, winner of the 2018 UCI Road World Championships, has confirmed his participation as well. Froome and Nibali V. are two of only seven cyclists who have won all three of cycling's Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta a España) in their career.
The Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium will also hold special significance for Valverde and Nibali V. The race in Singapore will be one of the last professional races for both cyclists as they have announced their retirement from the sport and will be hanging up their wheels later this year. They join Mark Cavendish and Tour de France 2022 winner Jonas Vingegaard, who earlier confirmed their participation. The list of cyclists and their teams is available in Annex A. The line-up is subject to change.
The professional criterium race on 30 October will also feature three Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) continental teams: Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team from Malaysia, Thailand Continental Cycling Team, and LX Cycling Team from Korea. Each of these teams is recognised and certified by the National Federation of the nationality of the majority of its riders to compete in international events. Singapore will be represented in the professional race as well with Team Singapore Cycling Federation (SCF).
Froome said: "It’s been a busy season for me having done both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana this year, but after a good recovery period I’m looking forward to travelling to Singapore for the inaugural Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium. Competitive elements aside, part of the fun of racing is also that we get to travel to new places, enjoy new experiences and introduce our sport to more fans from all over the world. I’ve heard great things about Singapore and seen pictures of what a beautiful city it is, so I can’t wait to race on this circuit."
Avid cyclists can also be a part of the action by joining the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Amateur Criterium, which is an SCF-sanctioned Class 2 event. The top 10 finishers in each of the three categories are eligible to accumulate SCF GC ranking points, the SCF’s National Ranking points system for sanctioned events. The Amateur Criterium, which will take place around the scenic Marina Bay loop, is the final race of the season for riders to collect these ranking points. In addition to a Men’s Seniors and Men’s Masters race, a Women’s Open criterium has also been added to the race day programme. Details of each race are as follows:
Men’s Seniors (aged 19 to 34 years old) – 24.8km
Men’s Masters (aged 35 and above) – 18.6km
Women’s Open (aged 19 and above) – 12.4km
The registration fee for all categories are $220 and participants receive entitlements worth nearly $300 – a two-day pass to the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium valued at $118, and an event jersey worth $180. The two-day pass grants its holders access to a slew of exciting activities and entertainment options during race weekend, in addition to the highly-anticipated professional criterium on 30 October. These include a one-night only show by the critically acclaimed live music extravaganza Synthony, who will make their Asian debut at the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium. Their performance on Saturday, 29 October, breathtaking fusion of electronic dance music, DJs, vocalists, instrumentalists and live orchestra, with Singapore’s very own fully-independent professional symphony orchestra – Metropolitan Festival Orchestra.
Cycling enthusiasts can also be a part of the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium through joining either the Brompton World Championship, PRURIDE Seeker’s Society, or The Absolute Cycle Race.
Visit www.singaporecriterium.com for more information.