The Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium 2024 is set to be the last race for sprint legend Mark Cavendish. The 39-year-old, who holds the record for the most Tour de France stage wins (35), raced in the last two editions of the Singapore event and was runner-up last year.

The focus will not just be on Cavendish, as the Nov 9-10 event will also boast a slate of other established stars and up-and-coming riders alike. The stage is set for a thrilling race, with organisers on Thursday (10 October) unveiling the nine teams competing in the professional criterium. Spectators at the Esplanade Park will get to watch cycling’s most acclaimed athletes vie for glory at the third edition of the event, some of whom are making their debut at a Tour de France Criterium event.

These include Slovenian Primoz Roglic, whose accolades include three Tour de France stage wins and a runner-up finish at the 2020 Tour de France. The 34-year-old, representing the TDF Legends, has also experienced multiple Grand Tour successes – he won the Vuelta a España for the fourth time this year to add to his previous triumphs from 2019 to 2021, and was the 2023 Giro d’Italia champion. He will race on the TDF Legends team with four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome, Japanese rider Yukiya Arashiro and cycling great Vincenzo Nibali, who is making a special appearance after retiring in 2022. The 39-year-old Italian is one of just seven cyclists who have won all three of cycling’s Grand Tours – the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta d’España.

Frenchman Anthony Turgis will also race in Singapore on the back of his exploits at this year’s Tour de France. The 30-year-old delivered an incredible performance in Troyes to win the gruelling gravel stage – his first Tour de France stage win and his team TotalEnergies’ first victory since 2017. He will be joined by UNO-X Mobility cyclist Jonas Abrahamsen, who is enjoying a breakthrough season in which he clinched his first professional win at the Brussels Cycling Classic in March. Competing in his second Tour de France this year, Norwegian Abrahamsen was King of the Mountains for 10 stages and was named the most combative rider on Stage 8 of the race.

The field will be elevated with the participation of promising riders from Lotto Dstny – Tour de France Stage 18 winner Victor Campenaerts, who was last season’s most aggressive rider, Belgian national champion Arnaud de Lie and Thomas de Gendt, a multiple Grand Tour stage winner on the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España.

Organisers had earlier announced that defending champion Jasper Philipsen, four-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome and young star Biniam Girmay would also compete in this year’s event.

Singapore will be represented in the pro race by national road race champion Yeo Boon Kiak (36), mountain bike XCO national champion Arfan Bin Faisal (24), national Under-23 road race champion Eamon Lim (19) and national road race runner-up Tong Khoon Fung (22). Yeo, who clinched bronze in the men’s criterium at the 2021 SEA Games in Hanoi, is no stranger to competing in the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium, having raced in the last two editions. Team-mate Arfan, a mountain biker who started focusing more on road racing in recent years, also featured in the inaugural event in 2022. Teenager Lim competed last year, while Tong will make his first appearance at the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium next month.

Tong, who joined the Singapore Cycling Federation’s National Development Squad in 2022, said: “It’s an honour to have this chance to race in the same event as some of the best riders in the world. My team-mates and I have been training hard to be ready for this race – we know it won’t be easy but experiences like these will help us become better cyclists individually and as a team. We’re looking forward to giving our best performance for our friends, family and fellow Singaporeans.”

The participating teams and riders are as follows.

Ms. Agnes Goh, Managing Director of event organiser Evoke Exp, said: “The Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium 2024 is shaping up to be a thrilling race with a strong field of experienced riders and rising talents. It’ll be exciting for all of us to watch how these cyclists approach the challenge of a new route and how they adapt their race strategies along the way. We are pleased to have a Singapore team compete in the pro criterium too, and we hope for this experience to be a highlight and treasured memory of their cycling career.”

Mr. Christian Prudhomme, Tour de France Director, said: “Mark Cavendish, Biniam Girmay, Jasper Philipsen, Victor Campenaerts, Anthony Turgis … The winners of 9 out of the 21 stages of the 2024 Tour de France will gather in Singapore. With Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali and Primoz Roglic also joining, the public will once again have the opportunity to enjoy a spectacular show featuring the biggest champions of the Tour. The Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium is sure to be a fantastic celebration of cycling.”

Mr. Goh Theng Kiat, Chief Customer Officer, Prudential Singapore, said: “We are thrilled to welcome an incredible line-up of riders for this year’s Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium, along with our talented Singapore athletes. The event not only showcases world-class cycling prowess but also promotes wellness through the different activities. With a new race route, live musical acts and activities for families and PRURide Seeker’s Criterium in its third year, we look forward to an unforgettable weekend that fosters community and well-being.”

Ms. Ong Ling Lee, Executive Director, Sports and Wellness, Singapore Tourism Board, said: “We are excited by this year’s line up of elite cyclists, and how accessible Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium is, catering to both professional and amateur cyclists, including families. The off-track festivities enhance the event’s appeal, and we hope all athletes and attendees – visitors and locals alike – will enjoy Singapore’s vibrant offerings and create lasting memories.”

The third edition of the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium, supported by the Singapore Tourism Board and leading life insurer Prudential, will also offer an entertaining programme off the race track for spectators. The inaugural TDF SG Family Day opens on 9 November, with carnival activities and culinary delights available for all to enjoy. In addition to carnival games such as Texas Hoop ‘em, Save The Egg and a Throw Can challenge, the Funtasica bouncy castle is also set to be a popular feature of the Festival Village. On-stage giveaways will take place throughout the weekend as well with attractive prizes up for grabs, including Cavendish’s Wilier bike frame as a lucky draw prize. The opening party on 9 November will feature live performances by six-piece cover band Shagies, who are known for serving up dance, Latin, pop and rock tunes from the retro to contemporary eras.

Families looking to experience the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium race track for themselves can look forward to the Family Ride, with bicycles provided by new event partner Anywheel. Participants can warm up or cool down on bike trainers provided by bicycle manufacturer Specialize at the event venue. Those interested in cycling merchandise can also visit the Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium sponsor booths at the Esplanade Park, with established bike brands and cycling apparel stores such as Santini, Wilier, Spin Axis and BYX offering a wide array of cycling-related products.

With accessibility to the sport being a key priority for Evoke EXP, this year’s event offers more access to spectators who want to watch the best cyclists in the world up close while also experiencing the fringe activities within the race precinct. Race access and more are available from just $10 (inclusive of booking fee), and dedicated cycling fans who want closer and more premium views of the race action can opt for premium or VIP viewing tickets. Tickets are available at Trip.com and Ticketmaster Singapore.

Returning for the third edition is the PRURide Seeker’s Criterium, the only event for non-professional cyclists to race on the same track as Tour de France riders. Over 170 riders have qualified after a vigorous training and qualifying programme created by Prudential.