Men's Masters Finish

Men's Open Finish

Yes, my Nokia 3110C video function is budget...

Anyway I was a no show for men's open, after realising that I could not even handle men's sport comfortably. I went in with a clear mind, perhaps too clear because I ended up starting behind and being rubber-banded around all the corners for the first 15mins... I totally am unable to corner at high speeds. An analogy to canoeing would be the pack turning from lane zero to lane 2, while I turn from lane zero to lane4 ... or, I make the turn from lane zero to 2, but with telemarking (ie stop paddling).

Yeah, so I was pretty much gapped at every turn and had to make up the deficit with an acceleration. The final sprint was not really contested by me, because I unfortunately lost out in the jostling for position before the final corner. It was a risk I was unwilling to take. So too bad, I finished in the same position I came out of the corner, which was about say 12-15th, something thereabouts lah.

Men's open was exciting to watch, with many many attacks... There were 2 men breakaways, solo breaks, break out of a break... chasers successfully bridging up to the break etc. The time gaps were always quite small throughout, about 15 secs, 30 secs... etc. And around the 45 min mark the decisive break formed... The intermediate sprints also made for some midrace excitement.

The race was won by this guy called Paul (Geylang Trimen Ventures), who out sprinted Samuel Yang (CSK? at least that the bike he's sponsored to ride) by about half a bike length, and new cycling talent Jiwen (Passion Bikes) closely behind... These 3 attacked the lead pack out of the final corner. Ex national riders / Passion Bike owners Daniel / Eddie has bridged up to the lead group but were eventually left trailing some bounds behind. But very strong nonetheless.

Well, this guy Jiwen is really a talent I must say, and he's only 17. I first met him at the charity bike and blade 2005, and he was already outstanding at that time. He's in his own league. Able to move up and down the peloton at will, attack the pack, bridge up to the chasers, compared to him all I can do is draft... and once in a blue moon do a short pull and half hearted acceleration off the front. Anyway, his passion for the sport is quite commendable, as he took one year off ACJC and went to France to train for a few months under some Japanese outfit. Anyway, he looks in great shape for the upcoming SEA games, and I guess he would have won this race if he didn't spend the first 45 mins in a 2 men break / solo break and winning the first 3 out of 5 intermediate sprints. You can tell from the fact that his ang moh breakaway companion from cycleworx was later dropped and DNFed...