Tour de Bintan: Stage 1

Finally I've gotten over this Tour de Bintan in my head. Took me a day, like a hangover. Now it's Tuesday and it's back to reality, back to studies! First exam the day after tomorrow.............................

Just had my morning coffee and feeling tired but relaxed, so i thought it would be a good time to think back about this race.

Team Fuji Singapore riders: Robert, Amos, Francis, Kerry (From left to right)

Stage 1 (150km)


I was rather disappointed to hear that some quality riders had pulled out of this race earlier. But to be honest, it doesn't make any difference to my chances. I was feeling terrible entering this race, no matter how much i tried to rest and take it easy days before coming, it only made me felt worse. As you can see from the race data, my max heart rates for each stage were not very high, but my legs were just powerless. So i thought about it and decided to stay conservative for the first stage, because i know i wouldn't be able to hang on in the break even if i went. It would be worse if i got dropped and couldn't even hang on with the main bunch. That would be disastrous as i would lose too much time since it was a long stage and it would be miserable to ride alone.

Stage 1 data

Our team decided to ride to the start as a warm up, 15km rolling which included a KOM for 2nd stage. It was drizzling as the race started and that made it dangerous for the bunch as the roads were bumpy, muddy and twisty. Our team decided that the first few breaks wouldn't last and to conserve as much energy as possible until the last 50km. So we took a gamble. Unfortunately, the first break happened to be the winning one, with Robert Hensby (Cannasia-Cannondale) and Vincent Ang (Cycleworx) in it, both very strong riders based in Singapore. Vincent Ang would eventually go on to win the stage but to be disqualified for racing under a different name. This guy is a complete nut!

Robert Hensby and Vincent Ang

As the break was getting further and no one team wanted to work and take control of the bunch, riders were wary that the break might succeed and started to attack. Robert Meek also had a shot along the Trikora Coast but was unfortunate to be caught back. There were a few crashes throughout the race. Tim Wilkins (Cannasia-Cannondale) got tangled up with an ANZA guy, but his team did well to get him back. Another Cannasia rider was forced to the side and head planted into the ditch after (yet another) ANZA guy hit a stone and flatted on the rear wheel. I got to know later that he was alright but his Cannondale had became a foldable roadbike...

In the last 50km, Francis tried his luck with a few riders and managed to form a chasing group. They held on till the end 26secs ahead of the main bunch. He came in 10th and is in contention for top 10 overall GC. Robert and i came in with the bunch safely. Amos had a cramp earlier and had to ease up but finished the stage to stay in the race.

Colin Robertson with his countless attacks

I think if there was any Combative award it had to go to Colin Robertson of SIR's A, who breached from the peloton pass the chasing group to the winning break, and tried countless attacks to get away for a solo win, but only to be brought back..