OCBC Cycle 2020 has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak and replaced by a virtual ride event in November

OCBC Cycle 2020, which was initially postponed from 9^th and 10^th May to later this year, has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the nation’s efforts to curb infections. Full refunds will be made by 14^th September 2020.

The 13^th edition of the region’s premier cycling event will instead be a free virtual event. Named OCBC Cycle 2020 Virtual Ride, it consists of three virtual ride categories: The Sportive VR (42km), The Straits Times VR (23km), and Mighty Savers Kids VR (5km or 800m).

Over two weeks in November 2020, from 1^st to 15^th November, participants who cycle the full distance of any of the OCBC Cycle 2020 Virtual Ride categories anywhere safe, whether indoors or outdoors, in Singapore will be considered to have completed the event. They will each receive the OCBC Cycle 2020 medal and the event tote bag by post by 7 December.

To show proof of the completion of the virtual ride, the participant has to use a fitness tracker or a workout app on a smartphone that can record the ride details. The ride details must be submitted to the organiser by 15^th November.

The participant does not need to complete the full distance within one ride, but can do so over a maximum of four separate rides during the 1^st to 15^th November period.

There will be limited slots for participants so cyclists who previously registered for the physical OCBC Cycle 2020 event will have the chance to sign up first – between 21^st July and 14^th August 2020 – for the virtual ride. Members of the public who did not register for the physical event can sign up between 15^th August and 18^th September 2020.

Event entitlements

Once the participant’s virtual ride distance is completed and proof of timing is received by the organiser, an event medal and event tote bag will be mailed to the participant (refer to Annexe A for how to submit ride records).

Those who registered for the “Go Red” option for the original 9^th and 10^th May OCBC Cycle event – and sign up for the virtual ride by 14^th August – will receive the OCBC Cycle 2020 event jerseys or t-shirts.

No event jersey or t-shirt will be given to participants of the virtual ride who had not signed up for the original 9^th and 10^th May event or who selected the “Go Freestyle” option for that event, which allowed them to forgo event apparel in exchange for lower registration fees.

Participants can download an electronic copy of the event certificate from the event website after their submitted virtual ride details are verified.

100PLUS and Garmin training programmes

Partnering 100PLUS and Garmin, OCBC Cycle 2020 Virtual Ride will be organising a series of home-based training programmes in August, September and October 2020 that participants can safely join – without leaving the comfort of their homes – to build up their fitness levels and stay healthy. It will be free for all participants of the virtual ride and anyone else who is keen to participate.

More details of these home-based workouts and online rides will be announced on ocbccycle.com and the event Facebook page.

Ms Koh Ching Ching, Head of Group Brand and Communications at OCBC Bank, the title sponsor of the OCBC Cycle, said, “With the Covid-19 outbreak, it is only right to not hold this annual mass cycling event this year. Instead, without sacrificing the safety of participants, we still hope to bring the joy of cycling to the community via the virtual ride format. People deserve to have something they can get excited about during this challenging time. We also hope that those who signed up for the physical OCBC Cycle 2020 event will appreciate the option of donating their fees to support members in the community in need.”

Refund or donate to Care Corner Singapore

All those who registered for the 9^th and 10^th May 2020 event will be given a full refund. Alternatively, they can choose to donate the registration fee to OCBC Cycle’s chosen charity, Care Corner Singapore, via the event website, ocbccycle.com. If participants do not make a selection to donate by 14^th August, they will be issued a full refund by 14^th September 2020.

Care Corner Singapore was founded in 1981 to help marginalised individuals with lower incomes and few opportunities to gain a formal education. OCBC Cycle event registration fees donated to the organisation will help support current efforts to help vulnerable seniors acquire digital skills in order to ‘stay connected’.

Annexe A

How to submit virtual ride details

After completing the virtual ride during the 1^st to 15^th November 2020 period, take these two steps to receive the event medal and event tote bag:

Step 1

Submit two photos clearly showing your face and bicycle. One photo should have been taken before your ride and one after it.

Note: Parents are encouraged to join in the pictures with their children for the Mighty Savers® Kids VR.

Step 2

Submit a screenshot showing the following details, as captured by any fitness/distance tracking application:

• Date of virtual ride
• Distance covered during the virtual ride
• Duration of the virtual ride

Note: Participants who accumulate the distance over two, three or (at most) four rides must submit full records of each ride.