WITHOUT LIMITS: Asian Cycling Championship 2012

18th February 2012 was the Asian Cycling Championship 2012 Men's Elite Road Race. The days before were the Women's Elite RR (Dinah and Serene), Men's Junior RR (Ryan, Benedict, Harith, Noel), Men's U23 (Junrong, Ah Huat, Travis, Lemuel) and the ITT (Marcus, Noel, Travis). I think Singapore Cycling has hit a new high after this year's ACC, and this is especially evident in the men's Junior and U23 race. In the junior race, Ryan and Noel came in 7th and 11th respectively. In the U23 race, Junrong and Ah Huat was pulling in the front to chase back the breakaway. Eventually, Junrong finished 15th. It was commendable that we are now actually making the race, rather than just sitting in the peleton, suffering and not physically able to do anything.

Now, for the men's elite Road race, it started with 69 riders. After 9 laps of pain and suffering, my left neck finally seized up and I have to abandon the race. The effects from the crash in Chiangmai was taking over my body. I almost caused 2 riders to crash on 2 occasions as I was losing control of the left side of my body. I was really scared that I will crash into a corner as I could not even grip the bar properly. In the end, the police Marshall had to help me off the bike as I could not hop off. I guess nobody really understand the extent of the pain I was in. I was crying out to God with every pedal stroke, every acceleration and every single effort that I had to make. My team mate called out to me, but I could not do much. Sometimes I tried to go, and when I did, I have to cause even more pain and suffering to myself. If anyone else was suffering, I can say that I suffered twice or even thrice as much. I felt that I have let my team mates down, but there was really nothing else I could have done. I hope they will understand.

There was a break that went away in the middle of the race and we decided that we had to pull it back. Together with Eugene Wacker (Kyrgystan, ACC ITT multiple Champion), we worked to pull back the break. It was 4 Singapore riders in the front. From a spectator's point of view, I bet all Singaporeans felt some pride and joy. From a rider's perspective, it was pure pain and suffering.

Well done to my team mates, Jiwen (39th), Vincent (25th) and Marcus.