SINGAPORE — One of the Republic’s marquee cycling events, Cycle Asia Singapore, could be handed a lifeline by Ironman Asia to help revive the mass participation race after its future was threatened by the lack of a title sponsor.

Four months ago, TODAY reported that the 2016 event could be scrapped by organiser Spectrum Worldwide (SWW) after failing to secure a major sponsor for the second year running.

Ironman Asia managing director Geoff Meyer told TODAY that the Dalian Wanda Group-owned company — which recently bought over SWW — may look to acquire the rights to the mass cycling event to add to its roster of sporting events, which includes the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS).

Meyer said: “There is a big growing market of cyclists in Singapore and in Asia, and we would definitely like to grow that ... we are looking at all opportunities.”

The news will be welcomed by local cycling enthusiasts, who had missed out on the 2015 event after it was postponed due to SWW’s failure to secure a title sponsor in time.

The 2016 edition, which was originally scheduled for April, is currently in limbo. Started by SWW in 2009, the then-OCBC Cycle had grown in popularity over the years before SWW and title sponsor OCBC parted ways in 2014. The event was then renamed Cycle Asia Singapore.

SWW had reportedly run into issues with the SCMS after failing to pay some of their vendors.

Ironman Asia’s potential involvement could also see Cycle Asia becoming part of the Velothon brand, which is a series of cycling events around the world that attracts an average of 12,000 participants per race.

“We like to bring more cities (to Velothon’s stopovers), and we might have a Cycle Asia event with a Velothon tag to it,” said Meyer.

“We would love to bring the Velothon brand into Singapore. Velothon is a more globally-recognised brand — there are some huge events around the world, and its brand has a lot more clout around it.”