Words and photos by Epic Rider Michael Pryde
For the last couple of years Singapore’s OCBC Bank has hosted one of the most unique cycling events on the racing calendar in Asia. The 2011 version, which took place over the weekend of 5 and 6th of March, included a Kids 100m Tricycle and 5km race, senior level 20km, 40km and 60km road races through the streets of Singapore as well as Criterium races on parts of the Formula 1 racetrack centred around the pit area.
The highlight of this year’s event included a Pro Criterium on Saturday night, which included Garmin Cervelo’s Jack Bobridge who recently broke the 4k Pursuit World Record and star rider Cameron Meyer.
I lined up for the 30+ Criterium, which included some local stars of the Singapore scene, such as Tim Clarsen, Thomas Weigand and Graeme Millar who placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. The race was a 40-minute Crit and with the skies opening up a deluge after 6 laps I had to face the horror of racing on carbon tubulars around a very tight and twisty course. After having to unclip just to safely make it round the two hairpins and with the 60km Road Race the following morning along with South Africa’s Cape Argus the following weekend, it was one risk I was not willing to take. I decided to call it quits with 2 laps to go of the 14 lap Crit. “Chapeau” to the riders who persevered and made it to the end.
The following morning I lined up for the start of the 60km road race, which promises to be a fast and furious ride. This was to the premier event for local teams and clubs and Team OCBC, ANZA Racing, Cannasia as well as Hong Kong’s X-Speed who were all out in force to try to win the coveted title. As expected OCBC controlled the race right from the gun, setting a very fast pace through the tight barricaded and winding portion that described the first 5km of the race.
Staying right at the front was key to staying upright since the sudden narrowing of the road at various points made for potential skirmishes with fellow competitors and barriers. Fellow NeilPryde Epic Rider Alan Grant (ST-Hyperlink to Alan’s Epic Page) from ANZA Racing was unfortunate to have a teammate pushed into one of the barriers which caused a ricochet across the road, forcing Alan to the ground. Thankfully, both Alan and his teammate were relatively unharmed except for a dose of minor road rash, and spent the rest of the race giving chase to try and regain contact with the peloton.
With many local clubs represented, I settled into the peloton, keeping a close eye on any breaks that may try to get away. Once the peloton reached the East Coast Parkway (ECP) the speed continued to increase as OCBC kept the pace high in order to try and reduce the number of riders. With average speeds of excess of 45km/hr and as much as 50km/hr along the ECP, OCBC’s plan was starting to have some effect with small groups dropping off the back of the peloton.
ANZA Racing and X-Speed did a commendable job of clawing back a few break away attempts as well as trying to ride clear themselves on a couple of occasions, but OCBC were too strong and wouldn’t let anybody ride off the front. It was obvious that OCBC were trying to set up a sprint finish in front of the F1 Pit Area where the start and finish was located.
The stretch along the ECP and Changi Coast Road, which made up around 45km of the 60km course was mostly straight with a couple of tight and unannounced bends thrown in to keep the riders alert during the dawn hours of race. The sun didn’t actually show itself until the race was in its closing stages revealing the damage that OCBC had created. Of the 200 starters, the lead group was now down to around 40 riders with 30km to go, with OCBC, ANZA, Cannasia and X-Speed still in the mix.
The last 5km of the race was through the relatively new development area in and around the Marina Bay Sands. With no further attacks being attempted, the race was going to come down to a sprint finish, and as we rode across the bridge between Marina Bay Sands and the new Expo I found myself on the front of the peloton pushing the pace. As a privateer amongst some strong teams in the region there was little chance of me making any impression and I decided to sit up and let the teams take over, and so I dropped back into the group to around 20th wheel.
Coming back into the F1 pit area, I was caught by surprise just how soon the finish had come. I really should have done a thorough “recce” on the finish area before the race but by the time I was aware there was just 500m to go, and the bigger teams had wound up the pace and all I could do was follow and try and make up as much ground as possible.
Coming into the finish straight I was able to make up around 10 places, picking up my good friend Adam Horler (ANZA) along the way and came home in 17th position out of the 170 that finished the race. Not a bad result I thought.
The OCBC Annual event is a must for anybody wanting to do some high level amateur racing in South East Asia with seamless coordination between all the various events taking place throughout the weekend. And in case anybody was wondering the Pro Crit race was won by Omar Bertazzo (Italy - Androni Giocattoli) with Dean Windsor (Australia - Rapha Condor Sharp) and Cameron Meyer (Australia – Team Garmin Cervelo) taking 2nd and 3rd respectively.
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