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Goh on brink of S’pore cycling history

SINGAPORE — Having never personally been in a title-chasing position before, OCBC Singapore Pro Cycling Team’s Goh Choon Huat admits he will have to rely on common sense, and the help of team-mates, as he seeks to achieve a milestone today.

Goh Choon Huat’s best result to date on the UCI Asia Tour is a fourth place finish in Stage 1 of last month’s Tour 
de Langkawi. 
Photo: OCBC Singapore Pro Cycling Team

Goh Choon Huat’s best result to date on the UCI Asia Tour is a fourth place finish in Stage 1 of last month’s Tour
de Langkawi.
Photo: OCBC Singapore Pro Cycling Team

SINGAPORE — Having never personally been in a title-chasing position before, OCBC Singapore Pro Cycling Team’s Goh Choon Huat admits he will have to rely on common sense, and the help of team-mates, as he seeks to achieve a milestone today.

The 23-year-old could become the first Singaporean to be crowned champion of a Union Cycliste Nationale (UCI) Asia Tour race as he is one stage away — or only 132km — from claiming the Le Tour de Filipinas.

Although Goh finished yesterday’s 146.6km Stage 3 from Cabanatuan City to Bayombong in 29th position in a time of 4hrs 12mins 49secs, behind stage winner Patria Rastra of Indonesia (4:12.25), he did enough to retain the overall leader’s yellow jersey.

He needs a strong finish in today’s final Stage 4 to secure the overall title, but will have to overcome the tricky 132.7km route that takes the field through more than 3,000m of climbs in the Philippines’ “Northern Alps” from Bayombong to Baguio City.

“I realise the importance of doing well in tomorrow’s race and I am nervous, but will do my best to seal the title as chances like these do not come by so easily,” said Goh, whose best result to date on the UCI Asia Tour is a fourth place finish in Stage 1 of last month’s Tour de Langkawi.

“I do not know what I can do, but to stay calm, conserve as much energy, follow the right moves and cross the finishing line with a bang.”

Goh, who is attempting to become the second OCBC Singapore Pro Cycling Team rider to win a title after Loh Sea Keong — he won last year’s Jelajah Malaysia — knows the top 20 riders in the General Classification (GC) rankings are all within 10 minutes of him.

However, Goh’s chances will be helped by his OCBC Singapore team-mates, as the outfit leads the Team GC standings with a lead of 5mins 27secs over Team 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines.

Goh thinks the Philippine team’s John Galedo, who is third in the GC and only 3mins 33secs behind, could be his biggest threat. But the Singaporean said: “They (my team-mates) are going to help me close down any important GC contenders that try to get in my way, and by doing that, I can focus more on my own race and be fresher at the climbs.”

Goh will also have team-mate Eric Sheppard to look out for as the Australian is currently second in the GC standings. “Eric is a strong climber and I will be following his guide at that. If he overtakes me, he may seal the tour with the yellow jersey for the team, so that is good for the team too,” said Goh. ADELENE WONG

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