Singapore National Cycling Championship Open Women Race Report

The Women’s National Cycling Championships consisted of 18 laps of the 3.5km circuit at Fernvale. As soon as the whistle blew to indicate the end of the first neutral lap the current National Cycling champion, Dinah Chan, attacked. The attacks in the first 15km blew the field apart and 11 riders were reduced to 9 spread across half of the course by lap 3. Chan was closely followed by Serene Lee (Pico-labz) and a chasing group of 4, comprising of Christina Liew, Colleen Ang (Cycleworkz), Suzanne Costello (MSPN) and myself, worked well together forming a rolling paceline to catch the leading pair.
The field came back together after 16km and even though the spectators reported a ‘picnic in the park’-type race during the middle 20-40km Liew & Chan kept up the constant attacking in an attempt to break away from their competitors. After some confusion over the number of laps remaining the atmosphere changed with 10km to go as we knew it was down to a sprint finish. As we came around the last corner, with 1km to go, the race favourite, Chan, went for the win with Lee swiftly on her wheel.
None of the other girls were strong enough to hold on to Chan and Lee and it seemed like they were left to race for the final spot on the podium. However, at 500m to go Liew, Ang, Costello and myself caught the leading 2 who had slowed, seconds before Lee went for a final sprint at the 300m mark. Chan was on her wheel and managed to overtake Lee 10 metres before the finish to retain her National Champion title. Back on the course Costello had a mechanical with 400m to go and Liew & Ang were fighting for 3rd position. I was sitting comfortably behind Ang who was neck and neck with Liew and with 100m to go I knew it was now or never. I banged it down a gear and went around Liew and Ang to take 3rd place by a bike length. I don’t think I could have planned the finish any better myself and I couldn’t believe the result. I still haven’t wiped the smile off my face!

Photography By Craig Sheppard. www.craigsheppard.co.nz