Team Singapore's best ever showing in the sport of cycling at the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG), dates back to 1971, with the haul of 1 Gold and 5 silver medals. More than 25 years later, the Republic's Bernard Wong struck gold in the Men's 25km points race. That achievement at the 1997 Jakarta Games, was matched by Calvin Sim's gold medal in the Men's Omnium at KL 2017. As for the women, Dinah Chan was victorius in her individual time trial at the 2013 Games in Myanmar.
Looking ahead to Cambodia 2023, Singapore's Cycling Federation (SCF) is sending a squad of 9, comprising debutants and seasoned campaigners at the SEA Games. They will compete in 4 road cycling events, namely the criterium and individual mass start in both the men and women’s categories. And in the buildup towards the 32nd SEAG, ActiveSG Circle checked in with the SCF President and 2 cycling veterans who will be retiring from international duty at the end of the Cambodia Games.
Dr Hing Siong Chen (President, Singapore Cycling Federation)
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 5th 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.
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.
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!
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)
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 4th 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.
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!
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.
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.
Image Credit : Singapore Cycling Federation
The Cycling competition at Cambodia 2023 begins from 6 May onwards.
Watch the Games LIVE on Singtel TV, Singtel TV GO, Singtel CAST and meWATCH.
For the latest on our TeamSG athletes, visit https://www.teamsingapore.sg