Another battle to defend the Singapore flag jersey was on for Riyadh Hakim last Sunday (20/10). The XCE National Champion title was at stake as talented riders from across the country competed in the OCBC National Championship MTB Urban Eliminator 2024. The Asia Union TCS athlete successfully secured his title, adding another gold medal to his collection.
THE The atmosphere at the Singapore Sports Hub on Sunday was rather lively, with many kids and youths gathered with their families for the Gen Z Alpha Series, a cycling race for young riders aged 4 to 12. This year, the XCE National Championship was scheduled to take place right after this race. In the XCE race format, also known as the cross-country MTB eliminator, four riders compete against each other on a very short course.
Having stood on last year’s podium, Riyadh had no plans to let go of his National Jersey. Following his performance in the XCO National Championships last July, the 25-year-old rider focused on recovering from his last crash and training hard. He recently completed a three-week training camp in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to prepare for this race.
Champion Returns: Riyadh’s XCE Victory
The tension to keep the gold medal was palpable. “I guess I put pressure on myself to perform, coming back from injury, three months after the last race, which was the XCO Natchamps. I really wanted to come back strong and deliver a good performance. Preparation and the lead-up were great, but the nerves were definitely there,” he said. Nevertheless, he still aimed to have fun during the race.
This year’s race course spanned 550 meters, featuring various obstacles from bumps and steep climbs to stair descents. Regaining his power and skill, Riyadh dominated the heats leading to the finals and maintained his composure. “I feel like the course is quite straightforward. A couple of jumps, up some flights of stairs as per usual, and back down a long set of stairs. I just wish we could have raced two laps for more fun!” he shared.
In the end, the race concluded on a lighthearted note. Everyone welcomed the defending champion warmly, smiles on their faces as the jersey and gold medal were awarded—the hero is back! “I’m really happy that everything went smoothly, and I managed to run well in all the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final.”
In his opinion, motivation was the key to this victory. “I wanted to hold on to the XCE National Champion title so I can represent the flag for another year in the World Cup XCE circuit next year. That was the main goal that kept me going 110%. I played the game and used my race experience to the fullest to ensure I got the win,” Riyadh said.
Watch Riyadh’s journey in XCE National Championship here!
