The 2015 Cambodian Mountain Bike Series (MTB) is to begin its ninth season this weekend. Pierre Catry, founder of the MTB event and a serious cyclist himself, said that the upcoming event will take the same format as previous editions, with five rounds in different venues, with the first round set to start on a simple track at Silk Island, a ferry ride from Phnom Penh, on Sunday.

Mountain biking is a growing sport in Cambodia, and with events becoming increasingly popular, regularly reaching more than 200 participants, there are many different categories for the differing abilities of cyclists, with cash prizes awarded for the winners of each class – the largest being $100 for the victor of the A1 Elite Open category.

The most competitive event is the Elite Open, which is reserved for elite mountain bike riders of any age, while the A2 Expert Open is the second-strongest category and is restricted to riders who are 30 years of age and older.

Non-professional cyclists can join B1 and B2 Intermediates, and there are categories for juniors, novices, veterans (ages 34- to 39-years-old), women, kids and VIPs (40 years and above).

At a press conference to announce the new series, NOCC president Vath Chamroeun said: “The event is openly organised to offer cycling enthusiasts of all ages the opportunity to test their abilities as well as get chance to compete at international events.”

The final date for registration is today and entry to the Silk Island event will cost $4 for Cambodian students (below 19-years-old), $7 for Cambodian adults, and $10 for foreigners.

Additional reporting by Yeun Punlork.