The 2025 edition of the popular OCBC Cycle Kuala Lumpur (OCBC Cycle KL), set for Sunday, 27 April this year at Dataran Merdeka, will feature its longest ever ride in the city centre – a whopping 50 kilometres, which is 8 kilometres more than in the previous edition.

The eighth edition of OCBC Cycle KL will be the most challenging yet for the anticipated 3,000 riders, with over 2,000 having already registered prior to the official launch. Along with the 50-kilometre ride will be a 25-kilometre one for newer cyclists not yet ready for the bigger challenge.

The two-loop 50-kilometre ride (comprising 25 kilometres per loop) will see participants being flagged off in front of the iconic Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad and riding past the nearby Menara OCBC, headquarters of OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad (OCBC Bank), title sponsor of the ride. They will pedal through an exhilarating journey involving famous streets, lush greenery and the must-see iconic landmarks of Kuala Lumpur including the ever-popular Petronas Twin Towers, Tugu Negara and Masjid Negara, among others.

Registration for OCBC Cycle KL 2025, carrying the “Let’s Go Cycle” theme, is open to those above 16 at www.ocbccyclekl.com until 23 March 2025. The event remains the only mass cycling event on closed roads in the usually traffic-heavy city centre.

Apart from the 50km and 25km ride categories, participants may ride in the 50-kilometre corporate category for teams of ten each, called The KL Mayor’s Ride. And, following the roaring success of the Kids’ Push Bike category last year, OCBC Cycle KL 2025 will continue to feature the event at the same time and venue, but with an age expansion to include those 3 to 9 (previously, 3 to 7). They have two distances to choose from: 150 metres and 200 metres. The 200-metre ride is exclusively for 7- to 9-year-olds, providing them with that extra bit of challenge to navigate.

OCBC Cycle KL 2025 will feature prizes for three bicycle types for adults – mountain, road and folding bikes – for both men and women.

All participants will receive a medal and digital certificate for participating, along with goodies from the sponsors.

OCBC Cycle KL 2025 complements the hugely popular weekly KL Car-Free Morning at Dataran DBKL, which is designed for leisure cyclists and other sporting enthusiasts.

As in previous years, OCBC Cycle KL 2025 is titled sponsored by OCBC Bank and its Islamic banking subsidiary OCBC Al-Amin Bank Berhad (OCBC Al-Amin), organised by Multigreen Events Sdn Bhd (Multigreen Events), and supported by KL City Hall (DBKL), Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) and Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM).

According to En Nezzam Malek, CEO of Multigreen Events, the stretch being made available to participants on event day will take them well beyond the experience of the 7-kilometre stretch they are used to at KL Car Free Morning.

“Kuala Lumpur is a vibrant city and OCBC Cycle KL has, over the years, become a much-anticipated ride for the masses. This year’s edition will present a better opportunity for participants to soak in the sights and atmosphere of our much-loved city, thanks to the increase in distance covered. Beyond this, the event will seek to more seamlessly fuse sustainability into its operations.

“We have studied participant preferences and route constraints and are confident that with the support of DBKL and the relevant authorities, this new route will prove to be much more fun and challenging, especially for those who have participated in the event all these years. We are also pleased to continue to offer the Kids’ Push Bike ride which was a smashing hit the last time round. And we look forward to greater participation all-round. I would like to thank OCBC Bank and OCBC Al-Amin for once again being the force behind the event,” he said.

According to Tuan Syed Abdull Aziz Syed Kechik, CEO of OCBC Al-Amin, OCBC Cycle KL 2025 will, like last year, continue to advocate environmentally friendly and sustainable practices by facilitating recycling and ensuring minimal utilisation of single-use materials.

“OCBC Cycle KL has the ingredients to put a smile on the faces of participants including mine. And I look forward to seeing my fellow cyclists turning up with me at the starting line come 27 April. I am also pleased to highlight our ongoing efforts to embody the spirit of environmental care through the event. We would like to invite the public to journey with us in tackling climate change,” he said.

This year, OCBC Cycle KL will continue to feature initiatives to both create awareness about recycling and to practise it, including: 

• No use of plastics or paper in participants’ cycle packs, except for the event bibs.
• Where necessary, recyclable paper rolls or envelopes are used.
• No paper flyers at the event.
• Large information boards at the event as well as information on the OCBC Cycle KL website – to replace individual flyers.
• No bubble wrap for medals; instead, they will be placed directly around participants’ neck when they cross the finish line.

Recycling bins at strategic locations for collection of banana peels, which will then be sent for composting.