While cycling fans have been (understandably) absorbed by the 2012 professional road cycling season with recent racing in France, Qatar, Italy and Oman the 32nd Asian Cycling Championships & 19th Junior Asian Cycling Championships have been taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Marcus Leong (Singapore) takes a trial spin around the ITT circuit. Image credit: OCBC Singapore Cycling Team
Held from 08-18 February, the 2012 Asian Cycling Championships (ACC) provide Asia s national cycling federations the opportunity to show off their local riders* in a truly diverse competitive environment. Track cycling disciplines dominated the first half of the Championship s schedule, with road cycling events starring this week.
This morning (Malaysian time), 20 riders from 20 countries started the Elite Men s individual time trial on a 12.8km circuit that was completed three times (for a total of 38.4km). Though five of the twenty starters are on UCI-registered professional cycling teams for 2012, it was hardly a clean sweep by the pro s today. This serves as a reminder that the 2,700 road cyclists on the UCI s professional teams database are only a drop in the global talent pond.
Though obtaining images from today s race has proven difficult, a very helpful official from the local organizing committee forwarded Cycling iQ official results moments after Kyrgyzstan s Eugen Wacker crossed the finish line in first place as he did in 2011. In fact, the three steps of the 2012 Elite Men s ITT podium will support exactly the same riders, in the same order, as last year. The 160km Elite Men s road race will be held on Saturday.
*It s actually more serious than this. Crucial UCI points are available for the top eight riders in the ITT, and the top fifteen riders in the Road Race.
RESULTS:
Eugen Wacker Winner of the 2011 Asian Cycling Championship s Elite Men s ITT, and first across the line again in 2012.