On September 29, 2024, up to 30 cyclists participated in Palau’s first Independence Day Cycling Challenge organized by the Belau Triathlon Federation (BTF) in partnership with Palau Visitors Authority, Palau National Olympic Committee and the Organizing Committee for Palau’s 30th Independence Day Celebrations. This event was part of Palau’s official 30th Independence Day activities.
The Belau Triathlon Federation aims to encourage young Palauan’s athletes by introducing them to competitive triathlons as well as standalone cycling and swimming races. Three outstanding Palauan youth competed in the Cycling Challenge with 17-year-old Travis Sakurai placing second for males in the 50 km ride. Female riders featured Elengoi Gibbons (15) placing fourth and Ebilou Ngiraswei (16) placing fifth for females 50 km ride. Congratulations to these young athletes for their accomplishments as they are preparing themselves for the triathlon competition in the 2025 Mini Games here in Palau.
Belau Triathlon Federation anticipates the Independence Day Cycling Challenge will be an annual event marketed towards cyclists from the region, specifically Taiwan, Guam, Japan, Korea and Australia. The ultimate goal of this event is to increase tourist numbers to Palau by making use of an existing resource, the compact road which is a road that cyclists only dream about – smoothly paved , stress free (minimal traffic), beautiful scenery yet challenging. Sports tourism events such as this cycling challenge is in line with our tourism industry’s goal of diversifying Palau’s tourism attractions/products to help boost local economy and creating more awareness and enthusiasm for cycling in Palau.
This 2024 event was a learning year for BTF, and we expect to build momentum for next year, particularly because Taiwan Cycling Federation joined this year’s race to scout the event and resulted in an MOU signed between the BTF and the Taiwan group.
The ride was made possible by generous support of sponsors such as Palau Royal Resort, Palau Pacific Resort, WCTC, China Airlines, Sunrise Hotel Landisson, Blue Bay, CTSI, Shimbros, Fish ‘n Fins, Bank of Guam and Diaz Broadcasting. As well, more than 70 volunteers supported the ride as race official timers and water/aid station attendants. Big thank you goes out also the Bureau of Public Safety for their support in ensuring safety for all participants and volunteers on the roads.
R ace R esults : For the 100 km ride the first-place male was Blayde Blas , a professional rider from Guam with a completion time of 3 hours 13 minutes. The second male in that category was Guam pro rider Derek Horton (3 hours 27 minutes) and third place was Mauris Prulla (
Palau) (3 hours 48 minutes). The first-place woman for the 100 km ride was Pei-Fang Hsieh (Taiwan) with a time of 4 hours 6 minutes.
For the 50 km category, the first-place male was Sinichi Arakawa (1 hour 44 minutes), second place was Travis Sakurai (1 hours 54 minutes) and third was Udi Bornovski (2 hours 16 minutes). The first-place female in the 50 km category was Mayumi Sone (1 hour 58 minutes), Stephanie Anderson (2 hours 1 minute) and third was Paula Miller (2 hours 29 minutes).
Race Course. All riders started on the Airai side of the Japan-Friendship bridge. The Long course (100 km) went up the east side of the compact road, past the capital in Ngerulmud, and to Ngaraard with a turnaround at Bai le Elab and then down the west side of the compact road back to the JP Friendship Bridge. The riders of the short course rode to Ngchesar into Koksai road turning toward Ibobang for a turnaround and then back to the JP Bridge .