Ahead of tomorrow’s OCBC Cycle Singapore, I was invited to join some pro cyclists (who are in town for the Elite Criterium) for a training ride yesterday morning.
I was afraid I’d get dropped, seeing how the pack had riders from Team Saxo Bank (Matthew Goss), Team Type 1 from the US (Jesse Anthony, Ken Hanson, Joe Eldridge and Aldo Ilesic), Pinarello CandiTV from the UK (Malcolm Elliott, Russell Downing, Graham Briggs, Peter Williams), Team Meitan (Shinichi Fukushima, Park Sung Beak, Masaaki Kikuchi, Seo Joon Yong), multiple-times Irish national road race and time trial champ David McCann, plus CycleWorx’s very own Kee Meng and Eddie leading the way for the 65km ride. Among this bunch included riders who had gone to major Games — and won — like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, riders who’ve done — and won stages at — the major Tours of France, Spain and Italy, riders who are/were national and world champions.
But, nay, I hung all the way. It was easy for me, so it must’ve been really easy for the guys. They chatted all the way, took in Singapore’s sights (CBD, Pasir Panjang, Gap, Lornie, Upper Thomson, Mandai, Bukit Timah, Orchard Road), did two loops of the criterium circuit round the pit building and made it back for the 2pm press conference.
starting the ride
en route to 65km
Nice to know pro cyclists are a friendly, easy-going, normal bunch with egos well under control and head screwed on tight. If only I had their lungs and legs. Oh, and also maybe Pinarello CandiTV’s team bike. Hehe.