Tag: cycling

Cannasia Cannondale race Sepang Criterium 2012

After a great experience at last years race the Cannasia-Cannondale Team decided to make the 3hr journey from Singapore up to Sepang again in 2012 for the Sepang Criterium.  With a few of the guys going really well and super motivated we were excited and looking forward to the racing.  The start line was full with about 200 riders but this time there were a couple of Pro teams on the line.  The boys had their work cut out for them racing against these guys.  Within the first few laps the selection was made and the remainder of the riders were left to chase the break and settle for the minor places.  Overall the team rode really well for the first race of the season albeit the punctures and the heat.

New bikes and the final turn at Sepang.

Team Cannasia-Cannondale

James Pretty (Cannasia-Cannondale) before his untimely exit due to a puncture.

Ryan Mckay (Cannasia-Cannondale)…Full gas!

The Breakaway.

The lead group with one of the chase groups in the background.

Racers take the final turn of the Sepang circuit.

Dave Gowty (Cannasia-Cannondale)

Tour De Bintan – Stage 3

Watching each of the categories leave the start line for Stage 3 from the side of the road was a strange feeling after being in the thick of it for the previous two ‘action packed’ stages.  I was assured my driver would be here as soon as possible but with only a 38 kilometer, relatively flat stage with an anticipated high pace I was worried I was going to miss it all.  Finally, after 20 minutes my new driver and motorbike turned up.  As we speed off it immediately became clear that this wasn’t going to be as smooth as the previous stages.  We managed to get to the final sprint point and set up position just before the Cat 1 peloton arrived and with a little coaching and encouragement my driver settled into the rhythm of the peloton for the last 15km back to the finish.

Overall I had an absolute blast on the back of the motorbike and I can’t wait to give it another go.  I honestly did miss being on my road bike and racing with the team but I did not miss all the nervousness and anxiety that goes with it.

I would like to thank Metasport for allowing me to be part of the Tour De Bintan 2011 and of course my motorbike drivers who did a magnificent job of getting me so close to the action.

Click here to visit Stage 3 gallery on my website.

The Cat 1 Men returning to the finish pass the Women’s Cat on their out bound leg.

Congratulations to Kate Poat, her first stage race and first across the line in stage 3.  Well done!

Tour De Bintan 2011 – Stage 2

Waking to a fine day on the second day of racing was a relief as it meant I would not have to flounder about trying to keep all my gear dry and shoot at the same time.  As soon as the flag dropped two riders, Ryan McKay (Cannasia-Cannondale) and Timothy Lim took a flyer off the front of the peloton. With the first king of the mountain at the 8km point, getting away early was essential to gaining early points in this competition. Sadly for them a couple of Pico Bikelabz riders bridged the gap and robbed them of the points. Unfortunately, due to an unprepared Motorbike driver, I had to leave the race at this point to fill up on petrol so I missed some potential scenic peloton shots along the resort road to the checkpoint which led the race into the ‘real’ Bintan.  After rejoining the race a break formed around the 25km mark and stayed away until the finish.  Here are some images from the day.

Click here to see additional Stage 2 photos.

Ryan Mckay drives the two man break from the flag drop.

The break is joined by one of the Pico Bikelabz riders.

Zamri Salleh (Pico Bikelabz) attacked the break to claim the first KOM points for the day.

There were numerous attempts after the first KOM to get away.

The winning break.

Tim Wilkins (Cannasia-Cannondale) rejoins after his nature break.  What a chase to get back on and I’m sure he’ll think twice about doing that again.

 

Rider Portraits – Tour De Bintan 2011

After each of the stages I tried to grab some quick portraits of some of the riders.  I felt sorry for them having a camera shoved in their face as soon as they had finished racing but hey, that’s the life a cyclist, pro or not.  I took my inspiration from an amazing photographer Timm Kolln and his book ‘The Peloton’.  Up and coming cycling photographer Veeral Patel also encouraged me to get in there and get some closeups of the dirt and sweat us cyclists have to endure during racing.  I’ve intentionally over sharpened the images to hopefully bring out the pain and suffering they had to endure but most of them seemed happy to see me and gave me a smile.

Click here to see a few more portraits on my website.

Tour de Bintan 2011 – Stage 1

One of my dreams as a cyclist and a photographer is to photograph a race from the back of a motorbike. In November I got the opportunity to realise this dream by photographing a fantastic little race on the island of Bintan in Indonesia. I spent the majority of the 157km Stage 1 following a breakaway of 8 cyclists from the Men’s Open Cat 1 over hills and through rain storms. It was an exciting and eventful day and after over 4 hours on the back of the motorbike I came to learn that it’s almost as tiring and painful as the actual racing! Below are a selection of my images from Stage 1.

Click here to look at more images of Tour de Bintan Stage 1.

The Cat 1 Open men ready to roll.

The break formed early and held on to the finish.

One of many short sharp climbs the riders had to get over.

It rained early on in the race which kept the temperature slightly cooler than usual.

The constant rollers and attacks during the last few kilometers kept the break on there toes.

A great sprint finish and the pain really showed.  For some more than others as the winner was later disqualified.

 

Cyclone Race Series 2011 ~ Changi Series 2 ITT and Road Race

The Changi Series 2 consisted of an Individual Time Trial (ITT) early on a hot Sunday morning followed by a mass start Road Race a couple of hours later.  Held on the infamous Changi Straight, a piece of road that runs the length of Changi Airport runway, it is about 5-6km of straight, boring tarmac.  I turned up just in time to photograph the only two Cannasia-Cannondale riders competing in the ITT as the rest of the team had decided to save their legs for the Road Race.  The OCBC cycling team were the dominant force taking the top two places in the Mens Open. Siw Haller of ANZA cycling easily took out the womens race.

The Open Mens road race was fast and furious with riders trying to get away, only to be chased down time and time again.  It wasn’t until the 3rd lap a break finally got away and managed to stay there for a couple of laps before being reeled in with one lap to go.  After constant attacks during this last lap it came down to a bunch sprint and Ed Ayres (ANZA Mavericks) emerged from the final hairpin turn in front and managed to hold off the charging peleton to win.

The Womens race was dominated by one rider, Christina Liew Gin (Joyriders).  She rode most of the race by herself off the front with the remainder of the women chasing. After a gallant effort by the women to bring Christina back to the peleton she got away again and stayed away to take the win.

Pain and suffering seemed to be a theme amongst the riders.

Some riders looked smooth and in control just like Tim Wilkins of Cannasia-Cannondale.

Peter Toth, quite possibly the tallest ITT rider I’ve ever seen.

Megan Kinder looking right at home on her TT machine.

Open Mens Road race.

Cannasia-Cannondale controlling the peleton.

The break went out to about 50 seconds before the peleton brought them back.

The Womens race was dominated by Christina Liew Gin. The remainder of the women were left to duke it out for the minor placings.

 

Singapore Road Cycling Nationals 2011

The Singapore Road Cycling Championships were held over the weekend of 25-26 June 2011. Due to illness during the lead up to the race I couldn’t compete. I was a little disappointed but it did mean I could shoot instead.  Once again Team Cannasia-Cannondale had entered a well prepared team of various strengths and were looking for the win in the Elite Men’s cat.  Gabi was on her own in the Elite Women’s cat and she had her work cut out for her as her main competition consisted of three of the best women cyclists in Singapore.

The Individual Time Trial was held on the Saturday and the Road Race on Sunday.  Rob Hensby was the only Cannasia-Cannondale member to race the ITT but he put in a huge effort to come home 4th whilst trying to save his legs for the road race the next day.

Cannasia-Cannondale had a tough job ahead of them in the road race with two or three other teams looking for the win.  As usual, the OCBC boys attacked from the gun and kept this up the entire race.  Cannasia did a sterling job covering most of these attacks and continually showed a strong presence at the front of the peloton controlling the race.  With about two laps remaining Tim Wilkins and a young OCBC rider took advantage of a lull in the pace and attacked.  With a surge of speed the two riders quickly gapped the peloton and raced away to the finish.  Tim used his road racing experience to out smart the OCBC rider to take the win.

Gabi rode intelligently and saved her legs for the final sprint finish.  With Dinah Chan and Serene Lee pulling away from the peloton in the last 500m it was up to Gabi to sprint for 3rd place.  She crossed the line with ease a couple of bike lengths ahead of her competitors.  Overall a successful day for Cannasia-Cannondale with a 1st and 3rd placings.

You can read the race reports here.  http://cannasia.com/news/victory-singapore-national-cycling-championships-2011 and http://cannasia.com/news/singapore-national-cycling-championship-open-women-race-report

Rob giving it his all in the ITT.

Tim making the young OCBC rider earn his National Champions Jersey.

Tim Wilkins takes the win.

Here are some of the other champions: Matthew Kinch (Sport), Anders Jarfors (Masters), and Dinah Chan (Open Women)

Pete ‘Petal’ Bennett finished his race a bit worse for wear.  He landed on his head in a flower garden during a pile up on the last corner.  But he still finished! Well done Pete.

 

12 hr Mountain Bike Marathon

Tampines Mountain Bike Park hosted the Dirt Traction 12 hour Night MTB Marathon.  The race started at 5pm and ended 12hrs later at 5am.  Having at least 2hrs of daylight provided all riders with a last minute look at the course before it got dark and although the course was not technical it was good to refresh the memory.  However, with ground water seeping to the surface from a day of rain the back end of the course turned into a mud fest and challenged even the most technically proficient riders.

Team Cannasia-Cannondale had a number of riders entered right across all the race categories.  We even had a few of the Roadies sneak out for some off-road action.  The team had its hopes pinned on the two men’s duo teams and two of the solo riders.  Unfortunately a botch up at the start of the race with track marking sent the lead riders, including 3 or 4 Cannasia riders, the wrong way and in turn put them way behind their competitors.  This ensured a long night ahead.  As 5am rolled around Cannasia had recovered and managed to get on the podium again.  Our solo rider Shahrin Bin Amir rode brilliantly to come home first in the Open Mens Solo, the two Mens Duo Teams came in 2nd and 3rd and the biggest surprise was the Mixed Quad finishing 1st.

In the main image above, the “Red Mist” had descended on Tim Wilkins after the initial race start botch up.  No. 75 Shahrin Bin Amir settled into his rhythm early on.

Gabi’s facial expression is priceless! Lower right.