Here we are, just hours before the official start of the racing season. The off-season of hard work; the suffering in training; the sacrifices, not to mention the blood; sweat; and tears in recovering from my injuries, will now be distant memories. The day has come, as the 24^th of February will mark my return to racing in my new team’s debut at the UCI 2.HC Tour de Langkawi.

On stage for the team presentation earlier today. (photo courtesy of Chui Chi Sek of Champion System)

The OCBC Singapore Continental Team will be led by Justin Cheong, and I will line up alongside my young team mates from across the Straits - Jun Rong, Chun Huat, Marcus, Tim, and our Australian import, Nick. The new team is also an opportune reunion with Saleh, team masseur from my very first Tour de Langkawi back in 2006. Along with our mechanics Indera and Safwan, we will be like a family going into this year’s tour.

The fans and public joined us as we rode from the National Museum to the Dataran Merdeka.

I grew up dreaming of doing this race, and this year’s edition will mark my 7^th start. While I have worked hard to reach this level of competition, I also feel a sense of gratitude towards this race. It has given me a dream to dream, and every time I come back to race, I ride like there’s no tomorrow and search for the glory that everyone dreams of – to cross the finish line first; with my arms in the air!

Wish me luck! (photo courtesy of Chui Chi Sek of Champion System)

 

Following the last blog post, here is an updated and in-depth report of Loh joining the OCBC Singapore Continental Cycling Team, and a look into his preparations for the 2012 season: 

"Get in position, boys!" Lorna Campbell, the team's PR Agent, coordinating team photos. 

The much anticipated team launch was held at OCBC Bank’s main office situated in Singapore’s central business district along Chulia Street. The team had secured a UCI Continental license; and the media buzz surrounding the event was very encouraging. All riders and team staff were introduced, and the launch was followed by interviews with the local news and sports journalists. We then proceeded to have team photos taken along the historic Singapore River.

Jun Rong prepares to go in front of the TV crew. 

Behind-the-scenes, the team launch was a simple and cozy affair for the riders and team management alike. My immediate impression is that this is a close-knit team with everyone working closely together. Even the sponsor, OCBC Bank Singapore, has many staff members actively-involved. Seeing this has put me at ease, and I feel very comfortable in this new team.

At the team briefing before the launch. 

Joining this team has also reunited me with Haidar Anuawar, my team mate for 2 years in the Marco Polo Cycling Team. He had been out of competitive cycling for a year; dedicating time to starting his family. Haidar and his wife are now proud parents to a baby boy, and in the meantime, they have even managed to get a small restaurant up and running!

Haidar (2nd from left) and Loh (right) with cycling's favourite devil, Didi Senft. 

Now that things have settled down on the home front, Haidar has found motivation to ride again, and the team has offered him a rare opportunity to return to competitive cycling. I have always enjoyed racing with Haidar, and look forward to teaming up once again. It will not be long before he gets back to peak condition, and our previous experiences racing together will certainly make things easier on the road.

A view from the saddle with the OCBC team in training. Haidar and Loh will now be a part of this close-knit team. 

Along with the new team comes new equipment, and I am excited to be racing Opera bicycles this year. The team’s equipment is provided by Cycle Worx Singapore, a great bicycle shop owned, and run by Singapore’s most successful professional cyclist to-date - Kenneth Tan and his business partner Mohd Yusoff. Arriving at Cycle Worx, I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted in Dutch! We later found out that Kenneth and I had both been living and racing in the same region in Holland – only 15 years apart!

Cycle Worx is not just a bicycle shop but also a strong supporter of the region's cycle sport and culture. 

After the team presentation and formalities, I made my way home to Malaysia. I had travelled to Singapore by bus, and similarly I had my return trip on the bus. And just like all the other travelers, I had to pack my new team bike and all the new team kit in the lower storage compartment!

Pinarello and Opera are represented by Cycle Worx in Singapore. 

Back at home, I continued my preparations for the new season. OCBC’s bright red kit gave me renewed motivation, and putting it on for the first time felt so different after the last 7 years of Marco Polo blue. This wardrobe refresher also coincided with the Chinese Lunar New Year, and red is a great colour as it symbolizes success!  

Loh fielding questions from journalists :-P 

Traditionally, Chinese New Year festivities include family reunions; visiting friends; and prayers at the temples. This year’s festivities were especially joyful as my sister returned from the United States for the first time in 5 years. This made it an auspicious occasion for my family, and I wanted to spend the holidays and celebrate the Chinese New Year at home. We also made trips to Kelantan, Ipoh, Melaka, and Penang where I caught up with my blog’s editor!

Loh taking a breather in Penang during the Chinese New Year holidays. 

This however meant that I missed out on the team training camp in Thailand, and had to balance the festivities and the quintessential pre-season hours on the bike. I did have my bike with me even while travelling with my family. And amidst all the festivities and feasting, I was able to get out on my bike in the early mornings.

Tour de Langkawi reconaissance with Shinichi Fukushima (right); my arch-nemesis from Stage 8 of last year's Tour of Indonesia! (photo courtesy of Danny Feng) 

Looking more closely at my training over the past months, I have been building base miles since December. After the ADC Vietnam Tour, I had a platform for the initial phase of my 2012 preparations. This allowed me to increase the intensity with quality rides - I have been putting a lot of time into motor paced efforts; sprint practice; and generally riding at E3-E4 levels. Additionally, I have incorporated training on the velodrome in the hope that the specific workouts will yield good form for the upcoming season.

From the dizzying heights of Genting Highlands; a picture taken on a recce of this year's Tour de Langkawi stage. 

The team’s international debut will be in my home race – the UCI 2.HC Tour de Langkawi. This gives me more motivation to train and be at my peak right from the beginning of the season. I have been doing route recognition rides around Kuala Lumpur and paying special attention to the notorious Genting Highlands climb. Look for more updates on the blog as we draw closer to the start on the 24^th of February. Until then, thanks for reading!

 

Along with the new year, Loh has signed with the new UCI Continental status OCBC Bank Singapore Cycling Team.

The team was launched with the Singaporean cityscape as its backdrop.

Loh, resplendant in his new team kit; a refreshing change of colours!

Loh is joined by compatriot Haidar Anuawar, also a former Marco Polo Cycling Team rider.

Sharing a lighter moment in between photo shoots.

The local media was in attendance; here Loh is being interviewed on his new team.

The team launch received good press in the news after it was granted a Continental license by the UCI.

Back at home after the celebrated launch, Loh is set to resume training with his new team issue Opera Canova.

Asia's very own cycling magazine, Cycling Asia has recently published a cover feature on Loh. The article is titled "The Journeyman" in recognition of Loh's endeavours in cycling's heartland. Through this well-written piece, we also discover Loh's humble beginnings; the hardman's style of racing he developed through his Dutch-based team; and admiration for his Malaysian cycling compatriots. The magazine has kindly allowed us to share the article with you, the readers of Loh's blog. Be sure to also pick-up a hard copy from your local newsagent, and enjoy!

(roll over image to download full size)

Special thanks to Mohd Rosidi Mohamed, and the team at Cycling Asia.

Loh has just ended his last race of the year. Like a metaphor for a year of ups and downs; he pulled on the race leader’s yellow jersey after the 4^th stage of the ADC – THVL Tour; only to pull out of the race the very next day due to a bad case of travelers’ diarrhea. Here, he ponders the future, and discusses the struggles that many pro cyclists are facing in search of a contract for next season:

Loh in yellow (centre).

At year’s end, one cannot help but reflect on the past and wonder about the future. Without a confirmed contract for next season, I am undoubtedly feeling down. With my recent setbacks; I had lost opportunities at results that may have boosted my chances of finding a new team. This has affected my motivation in a way that I have never felt in previous off-seasons.

Growing up with ‘The Blues’ – the Marco Polo Cycling Team has been my home for all the 7 years that I have spent in Europe. Unfortunately, due to a change in the team’s direction and objectives, time has come to part ways. The good times will be remembered; the bad ones have been put aside, and we have moved on.

Last spring with 'The Blues'.

In searching for a new team, several concerns have surfaced. While riders with good seasons have already been snapped-up by teams; the rest have resorted to bombing the inboxes of every team director’s e-mail full of applications. With so many riders and so few places on team rosters, it boils down to ‘who you know’. Contacts are very important in getting into talks with teams.

Another obstacle has to do with a lack of financial backing. And I am referring not only to the team sponsors, but also the riders’ personal backers that follow them from team to team. So in spite of the romantic view that some cycling ‘purists’ take on how money and cycling do not belong together, at this level of sport, it does.

Unless a rider has many winning results, some form of financial backing is necessary in getting a contract signed. It is something not many people realize, especially those outside of Europe where true cycling culture resides. But if you scratch the surface and dig deep, you will find riders who pay for places in teams, even if their participations in races are not guaranteed.

There are also the riders who are on their own; like me. I came into this sport without the backing of a sports academy or cycling organization, and I have raced abroad for many years while being self-funded. While I have enjoyed living in new environments; meeting new people; and learning different cultures, it has been a hard road.

Loh with Leon Van Bon; team mates at MPC.

The net result from my experiences has been that I have developed into the rider I am now. I have become an experienced domestique, having ridden strongly in support of team mates such as Leon Van Bon (Lotto-Domo, Rabobank); Matthe Pronk (Vacansoleil) and Sergey Kudentsov (Marco Polo Cycling) in final bunch sprints; as well as in support of General Classification climbers such as Jai Crawford (Fly-V Australia); FuYu Li (ex-Discovery Channel; yellow jersey in Tour Thailand in 2006), and Rhys Pollock (DFL-Cyclingnews; Drapac Procycling).

While I am not a rider with a sparkling palmares, I had hoped the recognition as a workhorse would come in handy when looking for a contract. But it seems it is much harder compared to sprinters or climbers who are able to bag consistent results. It is ironic, because cycling is a sport that relies heavily on team work.

"Just another day at the office".

It is indeed a shame that team helpers are not getting the type of contracts that they deserve. By this I mean the lesser contracts, and the unwillingness of teams to invest in riders yet expect for them to do what a top professional does. In a way, it looks like there are teams who are relying on developing cyclists to invest in them rather than the other way around. Call it unfair, but it’s just business.

While helping others gives me great satisfaction, it has also proven to be great learning grounds for my own development. When the opportunities presented themselves, my all-rounder abilities have become well-suited to winning from long breakaways. Highlights include my stage win at the UCI 2.2 Tour of Thailand, and near-miss second places in the Tour de Langkawi, and most recently at the Tour of Indonesia.

Loh's stage win in the Tour of Thailand.

For the last 7 years, I have managed to stay focused on my goals, no matter what the obstacles. This time, the setbacks left me with more questions than answers coming into this period of the year. I have been forced to question if my sacrifices have been worth it in reality. Whether seeking my own opportunities will boost chances for future contracts. It is still hard to say exactly what they will be at this point, but rest assured, I will be looking to start the next season with new motivations.

Thanks for reading, and Happy New Year!

 

Within only 3 weeks of being back on the bike, Loh is on the road again!

In the hope of raking up some quality miles in preparation for next season, Loh travelled to Vietnam for the ADC - THVL International stage race with the CCN Sportswear cycling team.

Amongst others on the CCN team is Lex Nederlof (pictured below; right), a former winner of the Fleche du Sud; and Timo Scholz, a previous repeat European Stayer (Derny) champion. 

Besides being able to race during this time of the year, Vietnam also offers a refreshing change of menu as part of the post-race meals.

Not to mention some cold recovery drinks...  all part of what makes Loh go so well.

And it shows, as he now leads the race after Stage 4!

Here's hoping Loh keeps the leader's jersey all the way to the end of the 6-day stage race. Stay tuned...

*Update: here's a quick snapshot of the general classifications from the results sheets.

-Editor

**Further update with pictures from the race:

It has been a quiet off-season. Recovering from the injuries to my right arm and shoulder, I have had to limit my movements; putting me off from my other hobbies like trekking, and swimming. And in order to accelerate healing, I have also had to limit the off-season drinks that I usually indulge in during time off the bike.

4 weeks on, I gradually regained mobility of my right shoulder. This allowed me to jump on the trainer for some easy spinning. I also started strength training with light weights. All while still spending quality time at home with my family.

Fast forward to today. In anticipation of pre-season training, I had to escape the torrential downpours of the East Coast monsoon; so I packed up, and travelled to my training base in Kuala Lumpur. Without a race schedule for next year, and nothing more than a spark of energy, I am still determined to make sure I am ready for anything ‘up the road’.

The off-season is also full of new things to explore. I had been toying with the idea to do a run. Or at least, a jog, if I wasn’t fast enough as runner. So I signed up for the 10km event at Nike’s “We Run KL”. With only basic preparations, it was just about going out and having fun. But when the run started, and the going got tough, I felt as though I could cook a steak on my ribs! I did it in 43 minutes; finishing 16th. Not a bad way to kick-start the engine!

I can't wait to read this! -Editor

Thanks to Cycling Asia magazine.

In a cruel twist of fate, the season has come to a crashing halt for Loh. His recent good form, and ambitions for a strong showing at the South East Asian Games have all gone to naught after a crash in training. –Ed.

The 2011 season is now a distant memory. (Photo courtesy of Mohd Mokhriz Aziz - Cycling Asia)

In cycling, and especially for racing cyclists, the bad days far outweigh the good days. You have to work hard to be good in the races, but the reality is nothing can be promised in return. Things can change at the very last minute, and this is what has happened to me - a crash in training has left me with bone fractures of my 4^th posterior rib; acromion, and scapula (shoulder blade). So, in spite of the hard work, and the will to ride into form for the last race of the season, I now find myself lying in bed with an arm-sling on.

“It is what it is,” I tell myself. Or should I say, I try to convince myself; to let go. But it isn’t easy to do. To let go is to accept failure even before I get my shot at the SEA Games. There is a Chinese saying -拿得起放得下- that reads “if you are able to lift it up, then surely, you can also put it down.” To me, it means that if I dare take up a challenge, I should also have the courage to face defeat.

Now that the inevitable has happened, there is nothing I can do to change the circumstances. With the SEA Games only less than a month away, I have resigned to the fact that I will be watching the race from my sofa. The doctor has placed me under house arrest with at least 6 weeks of recovery to let the fractured bones heal.

Occasionally, I think of next season, but perhaps it is too far away to think of for now. Rehab and physiotherapy will begin in 2 weeks, so it may be wiser to put all my energy into healing. In the meantime, the doctor has advised to abstain from coffee and alcohol to aid my recovery. Those who know me well will know how hard this is going to be!

"Don't worry, be happy!"

As they say – c’est la vie. It is time to hit the reset button, and go back to basics this off-season. This episode has been a humbling one, and one that reminds me of the more important things in life. Although I am frustrated with the injury, I have to consider myself lucky this didn't happen during the race season. Instead, it has timed itself as if to say, “It’s time for rest!”

Loh tucks into some serious recovery meals!

So bring on the off season! As I found out only 3 years ago, a calm and quiet off-season will usually bring on better racing the next year. During the 5 hour journey home, I was reminded of how much I have missed my hometown. The monsoon season has just started, and in spite of the pouring rain, the neighbourhood’s kids are still outside playing. The smell of the wet ground, and rising levels in nearby rivers welcome me home. I was born, and will be re-born in the monsoon season.

Get well soon, Loh - we are behind you all the way!

 

After the rest day, the intensity picked up in the 2^nd part of the Tour of Indonesia. The stages were longer, the wind stronger, and the temperatures rose even higher! -Ed.

Loh back at it after the rest day.

Stage 6 saw a long run of bad luck for the Malaysian National Team. First, a teammate was prevented from starting the race after being disqualified. Then, another teammate suffered broken forks on his bike and crashed. And as if the stage had not been eventful enough, another teammate, Rauf was in the finally move with 10km to go, but fell coming into a turn. He was lucky tho’, as a fence saved him from being thrown into a deep ditch. Me? I had my share of poor luck too as I was left waiting for neutral service after puncturing on a descent with 7km to go. In the end, Rauf and I finished over 4 minutes behind the day’s winner.

Loh (4th rider from left) chases with a teammate.

The next day’s Stage 7 was supposed to be an all-out assault in revenge of the previous day’s run of bad luck. With a pancake-flat course, we prepared our fast man for a sprint finish. I had been covering moves for a good part of the race and found myself fading in the last 3km’s. With Akmal, my team mate in the green jersey on my wheel, we had to hit out but it was too early. Akmal had to make his own way, and was narrowly-beaten by Shahrul Mat Amin, the Malaysian national champion riding for the Continental team, TSG. Our efforts for the day were paid off by winning the best team prize.

The race passes under a stone arch.

Stage 8 was a long stage that offered the last two intermediate sprints in the green jersey points competition. This meant our team’s main goal was to seal the victory for Akmal. I had also set the stage as a personal goal as the parcours motivated me greatly. When I hear complaints about long stages like, “I am not so stupid to ride in the breakaway for 190km” I relish the opportunity. As soon as the stage started, I went away with a few other riders.

Loh (3rd from left) out on a long breakaway.

Immediately, I realized that my fellow breakaway companions were hitting the gas too hard as it was just the beginning of the break. I didn't feel comfortable but I had a most important job to take on the intermediate sprints for Akmal. So I pushed on, and sprinted for 2^nd place in the first intermediate sprint, and was actually 1^st across the line in the last intermediate sprint. This meant Akmal had enough points to secure the green jersey! And surprisingly I moved into 2^nd place behind him. The Malaysia team car almost exploded with the team managers’ cheers after the announcements were heard over race radio!

Loh (right) takes the last intermediate sprint.

Back to the stage, and it was turning out to be a hard day. Riding along the coast with cross- and head-winds all day long, I was looking forward to hitting the 130km mark when we would turn inland and ride on the other side of the coast. All I was thinking about was a tailwind to aid me along to the home straight. That and the thought of staying away and finishing in front kept me motivated.

Loh, in 4th wheel, keeps a close watch on his fellow escapees.

After the fast-paced riding in the early part of the day, the other escapees were slowly starting to pay the price for their exuberance. They started to miss turns, and showed all kinds of expressions on their faces. As I came forward to take a pull, I made a small acceleration, and they all looked at each other. So, with a gap starting to open, I thought, “What?! There’s still 80km’s to go!”

Loh hits out on his own!

Regardless, I decided to take off alone. With a 9 minute lead on a day like this, I had to bet all my chips on making it to the finish on my own. But things rarely turn out according to plan, and the last 40km’s were met with a head wind, and rough roads. This combination of obstacles would either make or break me. I gritted my teeth, and dug deep. The headwind picked up again, and the road went down rougher still.

Shinichi Fukushima attacks from the peloton.

With 4km to go, I was going to be picked up by a fast-charging group. Instead, Shinichi Fukushima, the seasoned Japanese rider, burst out of the pack and came up alone. I was barely able to stay on his wheel, and he out-sprinted me in the end. I was really frustrated. But to think back, if I had been swallowed by the bunch, I would have ended up with nothing. So, 2^nd isn't too bad. My team also finished 2^nd in team’s classification. After the race, I found out that I had lost two and a half minutes of my lead in the last 17km after a chase led by the Hong Kong and TSG teams tried to split the main bunch.

After catching Loh, Fukushima goes on to win the stage.

1-2-3 in the Green Jersey points: Akmal Amrun (centre), flanked by Loh, and the Malaysian national champion, Shahrul Mat Amin.

Stage 9 saw us do a ferry transfer early in the morning from Java to Bali. With yesterday’s efforts and only a short night to recover, I felt sore all over. And guess what – Stage 9 was the Queen stage up a volcano of 1600m elevation.

A ferry transfer took the race to Bali for the penultimate stage.

I started the day 14^th overall on GC, and hoped to keep it to the finish, but my body has feeling worn out. I still wanted to do a good ride to finish this climb in a reasonable position. And it could only be done with a head start on the climb, so I had to start the day with a break and gain a time advantage leading into the climb. I worked hard to make sure I made it into the day’s break, and I was away with 6 others.

Loh and other non-climbers breakaway to get a headstart on the looming climb.

I didn't have the legs to ride hard, and as I also came to realize, my shoe had broken along the way. I had to ride on with a spare shoe. Coming into the foot of the climb, I was creeping. Surprisingly, I got back into some sort of rhythm after the main bunch went passed me. Hanging on, I rode up the rest of the climb with the yellow jersey, and a few others. We finished 5 minutes down on the day’s winner, and more importantly, I secured my GC place.

Loh is in last wheel...

...as the breakaway races along the unmistakable Balinese landscape.

Stage 10 was the last day of the Tour of Indonesia, and all I could think of was the finish line. Our sprinter was dropped on a small climb, and the day’s plan to bring our fast man to the line had to be postponed until the next time around. The day’s break contained a threat for the team’s overall classification, and the Indonesian teams combined efforts to cut down the deficit. Disappointingly (for a UCI-sanctioned race) traffic control was lax and we were left to contend with motorized traffic. During the last 3 laps, cars and motorcycles were all over the race course. The break would stay away, and won the stage by 20 seconds.

The celebratory atmosphere as the race approached the end of the Tour of Indonesia.

With that, we concluded the 2011 Tour of Indonesia. Things had turned out well for me in the end. There had been a lot of ups and downs over the past weeks with crashes; wounds; botched recovery, and almost pulling out of the racing before it even started. Instead, the team ended up with two 2^nd places, lots of top 10’s, and a 1-2 in the Green Jersey points classification.

The Malaysian National Team took 2nd in the teams classification.

Loh finished the last 2 stages wearing mismatched shoes!

Going bananas with European Steher Champion and Derny legend, Timo Scholz.

Personally, it has been what I would have wanted before I came here - going for a stage win, and a reasonable GC ride. It’s always hard to expect things to turn out exactly as planned, but surely, one can work hard and chase those dreams. There has been a lot of learning in the past weeks, and hopefully this will lead me to greater heights and successes in the future. It’s been a race of many seconds, but in this case, being 2nd hasn't just meant being the fastest looser, it’s been the place of a fighter!

Loh looks to the future!

Photos courtesy of Cycling Asia