ACC and CTM have signed a strategic partnership to elevate Extreme Cross-Country cycling in Asia.
The Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) and City Mountain Bike (CTM) signed a memorandum of understanding to promote and develop Extreme Cross-Country (XCE) mountain biking in Asia, laying the groundwork to create a competition network and increase opportunities for athletes, organizers, and future host cities.
Dato Amarjit Singh Gill, president of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), presided over the signing ceremony to develop Extreme Cross-Country (XCE) cycling in Asia, alongside Mr. Christophe Brunel, CEO of City Mountain Bike (CTM). Also witnessing the event were Gen. Decha Hemkrasri, vice president of ACC, president of the ASEAN Cycling Federation (ACF), and president of the Cycling Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage. The ceremony took place in the Honor Room of the Cycling Association of Thailand at the Huamark Velodrome, Sports Authority of Thailand, Bangkok, on 22 June.
Dato Amarjit Singh Gill, ACC president, expressed gratitude on behalf of ACC to the Cycling Association of Thailand for hosting this important signing ceremony between ACC and City Mountain Bike. He described Extreme Cross-Country (XCE) as an exciting and unique mountain biking format that brings races into urban areas. He believes this sport has enormous growth potential not only in Europe but also in Asia, noting the popularity and expansion opportunities of Eliminator mountain biking in the region.
The ACC president highlighted that this competition’s key feature is bringing the sport directly to the people by holding races in city centers, communities, parks, or shopping malls—places with constant foot traffic—instead of remote locations. He sees XCE as a new sport gaining attention and having a bright future. From an Asian perspective, there is great potential, with events already held in countries like Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and Indonesia. He believes Thailand is highly capable of hosting such events, as they generate excitement and attract attention. Furthermore, hosting these competitions inspires youth to take up cycling and participate more in the sport.
"I believe City Mountain Bike has great opportunities for wide live broadcasting in the future, which will not only promote the sport but also boost sports tourism by showcasing host cities to the world. Such competitions offer a platform to highlight the potential, beauty, and uniqueness of host cities, serving as an important channel to promote cities and countries internationally. Therefore, on behalf of ACC, we want to support and encourage Asian countries to take on greater roles, closely collaborate with City Mountain Bike, and help drive the growth and success of this competition format in the future," Dato Amarjit Singh Gill said.
Mr. Christophe Brunel, CEO of City Mountain Bike, thanked Gen. Decha and Amarjit for hosting the signing ceremony. He emphasized that integrating this competition into the development plans of cycling federations and the cycling community in Thailand and Asia is crucial. Their focus is on youth athletes, as young people represent the future of cycling. Through Eliminator races, they bring thrilling competitions to city centers where people live, allowing the public to see and experience what cycling is all about.
Mr. Christophe said the positive aspect is that young people enjoy this sport. They started building it from scratch, with the key idea of cultivating a love for cycling from childhood. He explained that even cycling at 5 kilometers per hour on an Eliminator course can be thrilling, reminiscent of childhood bike rides, but now elevated to a high level of competition. Watching world-class athletes race at speeds over 50 kilometers per hour on the same course creates truly spectacular events.
Mr. Christophe added that this competition format impresses people in two ways: first, by inspiring youth to take up cycling, especially those in cities who may never have considered it before; second, by providing exciting sporting events for local spectators, which is vital for growing and popularizing cycling in the country and city. This helps people discover and appreciate the sport's appeal. Combined, these factors build a strong foundation for cycling development at all levels, from amateurs to professionals.
"As far as I know, Thailand already has highly capable cyclists, so this presents an excellent opportunity and platform to further advance development. Considering Bangkok's vibrancy, bustling population, and urban atmosphere, I believe there is a perfect synergy between local people and elite sports. For this reason, we eagerly anticipate bringing City Mountain Bike, including UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator and ACC ASEAN Championships, to Thailand soon. This will demonstrate how new cycling formats and innovative competitions can unite people and encourage participation, benefiting the overall cycling scene," Mr. Christophe said.
Meanwhile, Gen. Decha said it is good news that City Mountain Bike’s CEO will hold competitions in Asia through the coordination and leadership of Dato Amarjit Singh Gill, ACC president. Thailand has been selected as one of the Asian countries to host events, along with Malaysia and others. He noted that Thailand is ready in terms of tourism. Originally, Mountain Bike and Eliminator events were held outside cities, but now they will be brought into urban areas, possibly with new venues, to attract tourists. In Thailand, Bangkok is targeted as a city to promote tourism, while Malaysia may focus on Kuala Lumpur. In the future, these events will develop into World Cup competitions, already included in the UCI calendar.