"Veteran" Hoang Hai Nam convincingly won the individual time trial for men over 60 years old, marking a historic milestone for the country's sports cycling movement.
Triumph in adversity
What was special about Hoang Hai Nam’s victory was that he competed in a car borrowed from the host country, Thailand. Previously, his racing car had unfortunately been burned down in a fire that occurred a few days before the tournament. This unexpected incident seriously disrupted his preparations, putting him in an extremely difficult situation.
'Veteran' Hoang Hai Nam won the gold medal in the over 60 age category.
The moment athlete Hoang Hai Nam received the medal
Thanks to the enthusiastic support of the Cycling Federation of Thailand, along with the help of individuals such as Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu - General Secretary of the Vietnam Sports Cycling Federation, Coach Mai Cong Hieu - Head Coach of the national team, along with assistants and teammates in the team, athlete Hoang Hai Nam had enough equipment to enter the competition. He shared before the start:
"Thanks to everyone's help, up to this point, the preparations have been stable. I have a bike, a helmet, and a water bottle to compete. I only lack shoes. I will borrow them from my kids to compete in the afternoon! I'm not afraid of strong opponents, I'm only afraid that I'm not stronger than my opponents! I will fight with all my might for the colors of the team, the country, and the people," he wrote on his personal page.
Hats, glasses and other equipment are all... borrowed.
On the afternoon of February 5, 2025, the logistics truck of the organizing committee (BTC) carrying equipment of the Vietnamese and Singaporean cycling teams caught fire on the way from Bangkok to Phitsanulok, where the Asian Championship took place. The incident caused 29 racing bicycles, wheels, helmets, shoes, etc., with a total value of more than 6 billion VND of the Vietnamese cycling team to be burned.
Among the 29 burned racing bicycles were some specialized bicycles used for individual time trial racing that were of great value. For example, the bicycle of racer Nguyen Tuan Vu was worth more than 400 million VND, including a pair of "genuine" wheels that he had just been equipped with by the Ho Chi Minh City team, worth up to 107 million VND. Tuan Vu competed in 2 events, so he also brought a road racing bicycle worth the same amount and it was also burned. The racing bicycles of Pham Le Xuan Loc, Nguyen Thi That, Nguyen Thi Thu Mai, Lam Thi Thuy Duong... were all worth 200 million VND or more. Coach Mai Cong Hieu said this was the biggest loss ever for the Vietnamese cycling team.
Pride and motivation for the Vietnamese bicycle movement
The victory of cyclist Hoang Hai Nam not only brought glory to himself but also was a great motivation for the Vietnamese sports cycling movement. As the first representative of the Vietnamese cycling movement to participate in the Asian arena, the "veteran" showed his resilience and determination, contributing to promoting the development of this sport in the country.
This is his first time participating in a tournament in the Asian arena.
'Veteran' Hoang Hai Nam before the match
Vietnam team's bicycle fire: Cause of fire unknown, organizers will compensate
He affirmed: "My desire to compete this time is to contribute a small part to promoting the country's sports cycling movement."
This meaningful victory not only affirms the class of Vietnamese cyclists but also demonstrates their spirit of fighting with all their might, overcoming adversity to reach success. Hopefully, with this brilliant start from "veteran" Hoang Hai Nam, the athletes will continue to reap many successes in the following days of competition at the 2025 Asian Road Cycling Championship.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/xe-chay-rui-lao-tuong-hoang-hai-nam-van-xuat-sac-gianh-hcv-chau-a-tu-chiec-xe-muon-185250208224305129.htm
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