AN EXCITING mix of world champions, world record holders, Commonwealth Games gold medallists and Asia Pacific's hottest young talent is set to converge on Singapore for this year's OCBC Cycle Singapore Professional Criterium from March 4 to 6. In a selection of more than 80 outstanding cyclists from around the world, Australians and Garmin-Cervelo teammates Cameron Meyer and Jack Bobridge are arguably the pick of a high-quality bunch who will line up under floodlights at 8pm on March 5.
Meyer has backed up an incredible 2010 by defending his crown as Australia's National Time Trial Champion in January before winning the prestigious Tour Down Under just a few weeks later. The 23-year-old out of Western Australia is also currently the top ranked cyclist on the UCI WorldTour. Bobridge won the Australian Road National Championships in January and then shocked the cycling world this month by breaking the 'unbreakable' 4km individual pursuit world record which had stood for 15 years.
The Australians will arrive in sensational form but will face stern challenge from a whole host of other contenders which include Dan Holloway, the current US Professional Criterium Champion, and the other three American members of the Kelley Benefit Strategies Team. Kristian House, the 2009 British Road Race Champion, is also back for a second tilt at the OCBC Cycle Singapore title and will be joined by three of his Rapha Condor Sharp teammates.
Similarly, Alessandro Bertolini of team Androni Giocattoli, who has been racing professionally since 1994, has accumulated 14 road race wins, five tour wins, 10 stage wins, a team TT win, and a national championship. A veteran of the European Tour circuit, he was the UCI Europe Tour Champion 2006-2007. Another interesting highlight of this year's Professional Criterium will see the 2009 and 2010 Champions squaring off against each other in Australian David Pell and fellow countryman Ben Kersten. Pell claimed the inaugural OCBC Cycle Singapore title in 2009 but did not return last year when Kersten of Fly V Australia stormed home to take first place.
The OCBC Cycle Singapore Professional Criterium will take place not only under floodlights, but also in cooler temperatures, along a new 1.7km route around the F1 Pit Building, allowing spectators to get closer to the action.
