National team mops up in Bangsaen

AN AIR FORCE sergeant rode home from the inaugural “Tour of Bangsaen” cycling race last Sunday with a new set of wheels – a one-of-its-kind-anywhere Cipollini NK1K Tour of Bangsaen bicycle valued at Bt900,000.
Sergeant Peerapol Chawchiangkwang of the Royal Thai Air Force Singha Bikenet team was the winner in Class A, claiming the flashy new bike and Bt50,000 in spending money.
Kirati Sukprasert of Singha Bikenet snagged Bt30,000 for second place and Phuchong Saiudomsin, another member of the Air Force squad, pocketed Bt20,000 for third.
Meanwhile women cyclists from the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Defence swept all three prizes in Class B.
Wilaiwan Kunlapa, the gold medallist at the 2013 SEA Games, won a Cipollini RB1K frame and Bt30,000. Chanpeng Nonthasin, silver medallist at the same games, earned Bt20,000. And Phetchdarin Somraj, who won three trophies at Jaiajah Wanita Malaysia last year, accepted Bt10,000.

“All of the Class A and Class B winners are on the National Cycling Team I coach,” event commentator Wisut “Coach Tum” Kasiyaphat proudly declared.
A cyclist himself for 30 years, Tum was delighted at the turnout in Bangsaen. The field of 4,000 participants dwarfed that of his Masters Tour of Chiang Mai, which typically draws about 100 cyclists.
“Organisers have to be prepared for any detail, the most important being safety, since this is cycling on public roads, not in a stadium,” the coach advised.
“You can’t control every factor when you’re planning the route in the days before the competition, but has to be as safe as possible. This one’s good overall, but it would be better if there were more one-way routes so the cyclists don’t have to keep turning back on the same streets.

“I think Bangsaen has the potential for developing many more cycling routes, but they need to expand the area beyond the finish line so it doesn’t get so crowded with cyclists. People coming in could miss the finish line by accident and finishes could get recorded twice, which means everyone will get confused. The organiser should find a better way to get the entrants massed at the start line too. In my race I put on a show to get their attention!”
Classes A and B in the 124-kilometre FIA Grade 3 event took cyclists to Bang Phra and Nong Kho reservoirs, Khao Kheow Golf Club and Bang Phra Reservoir Fishery. Class C was a “Leisure and Sightseeing” category covering 75km and skipping the Nong Kho Reservoir.
Also competing in Classes A and B with Royal Thai Navy Life & Living Bikenet, Royal Thai Police, Woodland Cycling, Ksport Toyota Pattaya 1998 Maxrunner, Lenso Cycling and Chonburi All Star Cycling Team.
The 2,000 cyclists in Class C included celebrities Aroonnapa “Varn Varn” Panichjaroon, Korrapin Puangpo from the Pink Sock women’s cycling team, Tanat “Poonim” Watcharaapiya of Bike Angel 2014, Jaturong Kolimas, Chokchai Charoensuk, Jeffrey Banjarkulviwhat and Thuwachit “Ap” Wilaiolarn, the singer and host of “Bike Travel”.
“I think Thailand has huge potential for big cycling races,” Coach Tum said, “but there isn’t enough cooperation among the organisations yet. It would be good for tourism, but you don’t see any tickets sold like you do at football matches.
“And cycling could develop a far bigger home viewing audience than football gets into the stadiums. I’ve often been asked when the Thai cycling team will be able to participate in the Tour de France – the answer is that it would be easier for the national football team to get into the World Cup.”

Wheels Turning

- Get all the results at Thaimtb.com/tourofbangsaen.
- The Tour of Bangsaen has its own Facebook page as well.