International cyclists praised the international mountain bike event as excellently organized, surpassing the World Series in quality and management standards, creating a strong impression on all participants and teams involved in the competition.
Foreign cyclists highly praised the international cross-country mountain bike race "2026 Thailand MTB Cup" for its excellent organization in both management and competition standards, which exceeded those of the World Series. This impressed every cyclist participating. Mr. Prathet Boonyong, Mayor of Tha Khanun Subdistrict Municipality and Vice President of the Cycling Association of Thailand, expressed his delight at the large number of participants, which helped stimulate the economy and brought vibrancy to Thong Pha Phum district.
General Decha Hemkrasri, Deputy President of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), President of the ASEAN Cycling Federation (ACF), and President of the Cycling Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, revealed that the Cycling Association of Thailand, in collaboration with Tha Khanun Subdistrict Municipality and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), organized the international cross-country mountain bike race “2026 Thailand MTB Cup” on 14 January at Vajiralongkorn Dam, Thong Pha Phum district, Kanchanaburi province. The event was highly successful, attracting 28 teams from 12 countries. Thai cyclists achieved 2 silver medals and 1 bronze across six categories.
General Decha said that international athletes praised the event’s excellent management by the Cycling Association of Thailand as organizer, including warm hospitality and a world-class standard course. The manager of the Charge Racing team from the United States expressed great admiration for the event, highlighting the well-organized management committee, the dedicated team manager meeting room, attention to detail such as team name tags, and presentation of appreciation plaques to all teams. He noted that despite having traveled globally with his athletes, he had never seen such superb organization, even surpassing World Series events which could not match this level of perfection.
Riki Kitabayashi, a Japanese cyclist and gold medalist in the men’s open category, revealed that this was his second consecutive year competing in Thailand. He expressed great admiration for the race course, noting it was not overly technically complex, making it suitable as the first competition of the season. The course helped riders establish their rhythm and form naturally, serving as an excellent season opener. Winning the championship made him very happy, especially as this was a Continental Series event that motivates athletes by allowing them to earn points influencing qualification for the World Cup. The elevated competition level compared to last year is very positive for cycling in Asia.
Riyard Hakim bin Lukman, a cyclist from Singapore, stated this was probably their third year participating in Thailand’s race. Each year, this event serves as a great season opener in January. The course is well-maintained, fast, and smooth, ideal for testing physical readiness against other athletes.
Ihsah Muhammad, a cyclist from Indonesia, said he had the opportunity to compete against riders from around the world, including Canada and the United States, making the competition very exciting. The Cycling Association of Thailand has consistently organized excellent events for both mountain biking and road cycling. Everything is systematically managed from start to finish, with thorough care for athletes and teams and full facilities, allowing participants to focus entirely on the competition.
Melinda Ayu Putri, a female cyclist from Indonesia, mentioned this was her second time competing, and the third for Saenal Fanani and Sayu Bella Sukma Dewi. They expressed gratitude to Fanani for the opportunity to participate here. The competition was quite challenging, especially with European cyclists joining and the course requiring high technical skills. They thanked the organizers for creating excellent events each year and hope this competition continues regularly in the future.
Meanwhile, the Cycling Association of Thailand, in partnership with Tha Khanun Subdistrict Municipality and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), conducted training for assistant referees and safe cycling on 15 January at the Tanawasi Room within Vajiralongkorn Dam. The ceremony was presided over by Mr. Prathet Boonyong, Mayor of Tha Khanun and Vice President of the Cycling Association of Thailand. Also attending were Mr. Thawat Chomming, Tha Khanun Municipality Clerk, Mr. Sarawut Sermsuk, Head of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, acting Head of Tha Khanun Municipality Office, and Mr. Khattiya Srisoda, an international referee who provided training. Those who completed the training received certificates permitting them to serve as assistant referees in the Thailand Cycling Championships or as referees in Kanchanaburi and neighboring provinces. They also gain eligibility for advanced training provided annually by the Cycling Association.
Mr. Prathet Boonyong, Mayor of Tha Khanun Subdistrict Municipality, stated that the municipality was honored to co-host the cycling competition. They were fully prepared to support all cycling categories, including mountain biking and road cycling. This year’s road race extended outside Vajiralongkorn Dam, presenting a new challenge that cyclists appreciated, offering long-distance riding with scenic views of Thong Pha Phum district’s landscape. Importantly, the presence of many Thai and international athletes from training through the competition period boosted the district’s economy, energizing the community. Local businesses, restaurants, and hotels saw increased income.
The competition program for Friday, 16 January, included road cycling time trial events, with the opening ceremony chaired by Mr. Anusorn Sanga-saeng, District Chief of Thong Pha Phum. The race started at 09:00 within Vajiralongkorn Dam, covering a 10.8 km lap. Simultaneously, a mountain bike downhill race was held at the dam, starting at 09:00 over a 1.2 km course. These events were broadcast live on Facebook Live via Thailand Cycling Association and TCA Channel, and on YouTube: TCA Channel from 09:00 onward. Additionally, a “Bike for Life - TCA GREEN CYCLING” health ride took place on a 4.7 km route within the dam area, starting at 15:00.