Failed To Repeat Last Year's Success, The 2023 UCI MTB Bike World Championship In Central Kalimantan Was Postponed Due To Forest And Land Fires

Photos of Archives - World Bike Championships in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan in 2022. (ANTARA/Muhammad Arif Hidayat)

PALANGKA RAYA - The 2023 UCI Bike World Championship MTB should be held on October 15 in Central Kalimantan but because the situation did not allow it to be forced to be postponed.

Central Kalimantan Governor Sugianto Sabran officially issued a notification letter for the postponement of the implementation of the 2023 UCI bicycle championship MTB Eliminator World Championships taking into account the conditions of forest and land fires in the local area.

"The governor has issued a notification letter for the delay," said Central Kalimantan (Kalteng) Regional Secretary Nuryakin when contacted from Palangka Raya, Saturday, as reported by ANTARA.

The Central Kalimantan Provincial Government expressed its gratitude to the Executive Board of the Indonesian Bicycle Sports Association which entrusted the province as the host of the Union Cycliste Internationale Mountain Bike (UCI MTB) Eliminator World Championship 2023 in Palangka Raya City and the funds for this activity were already available.

It's just that the implementation of the bicycle world championship, which was originally planned to be held on October 15, is considered not possible if you look at the development of weather and natural conditions in the local area.

Based on data from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), currently in Central Kalimantan experiencing extreme weather changes triggered by the El Nino phenomenon, resulting in forest and land fires (karhutla).

Including in Palangka Raya City which also experienced its impact, including smog and high dust or sand particles in the air and an increasing hot temperature. This year's El Nino phenomenon is quite long, even estimated until January-February 2024.

Therefore, the Central Kalimantan Provincial Government is currently focusing on handling to anticipate the spread of forest and land fires and to anticipate early on for people affected by the El Nino phenomenon, both in terms of health, food security, education and others.

Regarding these conditions, the Governor of Central Kalimantan decided to postpone the implementation of the bicycle world championship until the time to be determined later.

Meanwhile, in 2022, the UCI MTB bicycle world championship was successfully held in Central Kalimantan, which was centered in the racing arena in the Tuah Pahoe Stadium, Palangka Raya City.

This activity has a multi-effective effect, not only spurring the development of bicycle sports, but also the tourism sector and regional economy.