Cambodia 2023 : It's the Final Hurrah for TeamSG's Cycling Stars, Calvin Sim & Luo Yiwei!

Siong Chen : The team size has been reduced from 10 to 9 as Darren Lim had to withdraw, because he has not recovered from an injury. The team started on their preparations soon after the conclusion of the last SEA Games in Hanoi 2022. There's been no let-up. And under the guidance of SCF's team of coaches, culture of team-work, mental resilience and with a focus on the process of being successful. If they continue on this path, I am confident that they will achieve success at the upcoming SEA Games.

 

Siong Chen : Calvin has been a positive and calming influence on the team. It is always sad to see your best athletes retire, but we've established a pathway for our retiring athletes to continue to contribute actively - in the case of Calvin (and Junaidi Hashim) they are on board as National Coaches and have a strong desire to build on the next generation of champions.

 

 

 

Siong Chen : Faye came through our open trials some 2 years back and found her way into our Women's Academy. We've put in place a rigorous process of selection which comprise :
(a) commitment to a set training regime including regular attendance
(b) discipline - punctuality and complete set workouts and programmes 
(c) achieving set physiological benchmarks
(d) ability and willingness to contribute to the team tactics as dictated by SCF's team of coaches.

 

Siong Chen : Going forward, the focus will be on our squad of Under-23 riders including their participation in the Asian Championships. There will also be no let-up as the cyclists look ahead to the local National Championships and representing their respective clubs - Individual Time Trial (25 June), Road Race (2 July) and Team Time Trial (6 August)

 

 

Team Singapore Cyclist, Calvin Sim. Photo Credit : Calvin Sim

 

Calvin Sim (Cyclist, Singapore's Men's Team)
Age : 34
No of Years in Team Singapore : 14
No of Years in cycling : 18

Q : Cambodia 2023 represents your 5^th time representing Singapore at the SEA Games. How do you feel going into your final campaign?
Calvin : I am feeling a mix of emotions going into my final SEAG, feeling excited and motivated to tackle this challenge, but also nervous about the outcome. I'm embracing the moment with confidence and going to Cambodia knowing that I put in my best efforts during my preparation for the Games and couldn't have done any better.

Q : Why did you choose Cambodia to be your final SEA Games?
Calvin : I feel it is a nice way to end to my cycling chapter, while representing my country.
I am incredibly proud and honored to have represented my country in my final race, it's a bittersweet feeling, but grateful to have ended this way.

Q : Could you briefly take us through the journey to preparing for the upcoming Games?
Calvin : I started preparing for the Games in Sept 2022, working with a new coach, Brian Stephens. 
We went for multiple training camps in Chiang Mai throughout this period Sept to Dec 2022, usually about 2 weeks each time. I did a big block of training and racing in Australia, Tasmania from end Dec till early Jan. A good block of racing at the Tour of Thailand (6 days tour race, 1,100km), the first week of April. And currently, our final training camp is in Bintan. 

Calvin Sim and his teammates celebrate the SEA Games gold medal win in KL 2017. Photo Credit : Calvin Sim FB

 

Q : With the Gold medal win in the Omnium event in KL 2017, what are you hoping to achieve in your SEA Games farewell?
Calvin : I will be happy if anyone of my teammates/me gets a medal.

Q : What’s next for you after the SEA Games and what would you like to say to your fans and supporters?
Calvin : I will be taking up a coaching role with SCF, youth pathway development. I'm looking forward to it and excited for the next phrase of my life. I am humbled and grateful for the support of my family, coaches, support staff, teammates, and friends. A big Thank you to everyone who contributed in any way. 

TeamSG's Calvin Sim (1st from Left) at the 2022 Tour de France Prudential Singapore Criterium. Photo Credit : Calvin Sim

 

Q : What is your Pre-Race ritual (if any)?
Calvin : I would meditate and do some breathing exercises to calm myself and shake off any pre-race jitters. 

Q : Do you have a favorite go-to song before the start of a race?
Calvin : The Main Theme from "Pirates of the Caribbean : At World's End"

Q : Do you have a pre-race meal, snack or drink before an event?
Calvin : Fruits and oats, and coffee to go along! 

A momento from East Spring Primary School Students. Photo Credit : Calvin Sim

 

Q : Your favorite Professional cyclist in the world and why?
Calvin : Cameron Meyer. Very classy on the bike and a tactically savvy bike rider. 

Q : Do you have a favorite personal momento/souvenir from your time in Cycling? 
Calvin : It's a Souvenir from East Spring Primary School after speaking to the students (see photo above)

 

Team Singapore Cyclist, Luo Yiwei at Hanoi SEA Games. Photo Credit : SNOC

 

Luo Yiwei (Cyclist, Singapore Women's Team)

Age: 33
No of Years in Team Singapore: 6.5
No of Years in Cycling: 7 

Q : Cambodia 2023 represents your 4^th time representing Singapore at the SEA Games. How do you feel going into this final Games campaign of your cycling career?
Yiwei : I have some mixed feelings as this will be my fourth and final major Games racing for Team Singapore. While I’m thrilled to start a new phase in my life, I’m also already feeling a tinge of nostalgia going into this SEA Games. Every SEA Games is a different experience for me, especially with Cycling having so many disciplines including Track Cycling and Road Cycling; and events such as the Individual Time Trial and Mass start races. At Cambodia, I will be racing the mass start events and looking for some golden opportunities to make good of!

Q: Could you take us through briefly, the journey to getting prepared for the upcoming Games?
Yiwei : I’ve had to alter the way I train since the last SEA Games, as I was at that point in time, gunning for a medal in the Individual Time Trial. There is more room for variation in training for mass start races, so It has been a refreshing change. I continued to engage the SSI team in the strength and conditioning, nutrition and sports science departments, and they've been extremely helpful throughout my season. I also had the opportunity to get some race days in Vietnam and Thailand together with the ladies from the SCF Women’s Academy as part of this SEA Games campaign. The SEA Games squad is currently in Bintan, Indonesia to train together as part of our final build-up towards the race. We are training and working hard in each other’s company, so it has been great. 

Q : Which events are you competing in and who will most likely pose a major challenge to a podium finish?
Yiwei : I am competing in the Women’s Criterium and Road Race. There are a couple of teams including Thailand that are gunning for sprint finishes as that is their strength, whereas we will be doing our best to break their rhythm and get ahead of them.

TeamSG's Luo Yiwei's silver medal win at the 2019 SEA Games. Photo Credit : SportSG/Alfie Lee

 

Q : With 3 consecutive silver medals from the last 3 Games, what are you hoping to achieve in Cambodia?
Yiwei : Winning silver thrice were great. But having missed out on gold on those occasions were frankly not easy to deal with, as I started having higher expectations of myself. I’ve had to switch my mindset to focus more on the process and journey instead of the outcome. I am always excited to race for a win, but regardless, I can be satisfied as long as we put up a good fight till the end. 

Q : What’s next for you after the SEA Games?
Yiwei : I am starting my post-cycling career at Sport Singapore as a Sport Performance Manager and looking forward to that!

TeamSG's Luo Yiwei (lead cyclist) in a 2019 competition in Thailand. Photo Credit : Thaicycling Association

 

Q : What is your Pre-Race ritual (if any)?
Yiwei : Pin my numbers on my jersey and pack everything into my race bag on the night before. Have the same, familiar breakfast on the day of the race. 

Q : Do you have a favourite go-to song before the start of a race?
Yiwei : "Born to win" by Five for Fighting

Q : Do you have a pre-race meal, snack or drink before an event?
Yiwei : Black coffee and overnight oats are my go-to for breakfast, and then maybe a gel or an energy bar to top off just before the race. 

A Double wall Coffee Glass from the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Australia. Photo Credit : Luo Yiwei

 

Q : Your favourite Professional cyclist in the world and why?
Yiwei : Fabian Cancellara, whose nickname is ’Spartacus’. His riding style is so powerful and just phenomenal to watch. 

Q : Do you have a favourite personal momento/souvenir from your time in Cycling? 
Yiwei : Double wall coffee glass from GC 2018.