wang writes

Just back from the OCBC Cycle Singapore 50km race. It was really really good, my only goal was to stick with the main pack for as long as I could, hopefully at least till the start of ECP and not get booted off should I miss the 34km cut-off at 7am.

Because there were only four women, we started together with the men. I had only decided to enter the race less than two weeks ago, and given my focus on running I wasn’t expecting much for the ride except to have some fun. It was really fun.  

The start, for me, was the hardest part of the race. We were flagged off at 6am, turned out of the F1 pit building and headed to Nicoll Highway where we had to do a U-turn in front of Suntec and head back down Nicoll Highway towards ECP. The pace was a bit mental there, I’m not sure how fast we were but I’m guessing it was close to 50km/h. When we hit Fort Road then ECP Service Road, the pace was still high but I felt comfortable, my breathing went back to normal after the early exhaustion. Changi Coast Road, which I thought would be crazy, was surprisingly sedate. We U-turned in front of the road leading to the Changi Airshow Grounds and, in what seemed like a blink, we were bound for home. When we got onto ECP, the streetlamps were still on. We were there well before 7am and I was thrilled I was still with the main pack.

(Oh, by the way, I think quite a number had dropped off the pack very early on, by Nicoll Highway there must’ve been only about 30ish of us left out of 60 starters.)

Anyway, back on ECP, the first time the entire stretch was being closed for cyclists, the pace picked up, attacks were relentless but everyone pretty much stayed together. After the U-turn back onto Fort Road, I knew I would stick all the way to the end and even challenge in the final sprint. The only other girl left in the pack was Christina Liew-Gin, a very very strong cyclist.

But all those thoughts were brought to naught after this burly ang moh guy in front of me took a spill at Mountbatten Road, I swerved right to avoid him but hit a cone instead and went down. By the time I got back on my bike the pack was gone, baby waited to see that I was ok and he rode off before I mounted my bike. Thanks baby for your concern! Anyway so the last four Ks or so I was on my own, I pushed pretty hard despite knowing it was fruitless. Second place, no doubt, was mine. Congratulations to Christina, just happy that I could stick with her! She’s a really powerful sprinter, though, and I’m almost certain I would’ve lost out to her in the final sprint. Still, it would’ve been nice to at least contest it.

But, hey, that’s what bike racing is all about. I’m pretty stoked I kept up with the big guys, according to their meters (mine fell off and was never recovered after my crash) we averaged 40km/h. Mine would’ve been a bit less considering I finished a couple of minutes back after my spill.

I won a big red luggage bag and shitloads of toiletries. But the confidence this race has injected in my cycling ability? Priceless.

OCBC Singapore cycling team boys swept top 5

me and Dan Loy (fifth)

contented

Congratulations to the OCBC boys for a fantastic race, especially Junrong, Ah Huat, Dan and of course coach Dan P. And to my baby, Lee, Gav and Assad for a race well done too!

Off for brekkie now. We’ll be heading back to the race site to catch the Men’s Open, Masters and Elite criteriums in the arvo…. I’ll be running there from home!