Between some of the superstars from the Tour de France with their full 8 rider teams, the Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team competed in Bochum, Germany on a hard hilly city circuit.

Malaysian Loh Sea Keong with Mark Cavendish before the start in Bochum. (Photo. Francis Cerny) 

When Columbia started to take over control, when a small break-away was a few minutes ahead,  big parts of the peloton were dropped and left behind. Going into the final 40 K we still had 4 riders in the first group. Then the cold rain and high tempo took it’s toll on a group with our sprinter Haidar Anuawar. We still had James Spragg, Jacques Janse van Rensburg and Jaco Venter in the first bunch. In the last 20 K the Protour teams of Milram and Columbia put up the tempo and the left-overs from the peloton had a mass-sprint. Jaco Venter was with the first few riders, but could not get in position between the teamwork of the Tour de France riders and had to be satisfied with a 26th place. It was Cavendish who won ahead of Ciolek.

After the race we had a nice dinner at Italian Restaurant San Marco (Marco Polo was named after the saint, San Marco). The team signed the guest book from the owner Marco, with famous people like former “Bundeskanzler” Schröder and Mario Cipollini. We enjoyed some great Italian food and Loh Sea Keong from Malaysia was permitted a ride on the 1955 Vespa from Marco. Loh owns a classic Vespa himself in Malaysia.

Some of the Trek - Marco Polo Cycling Team riders with owner Marco of restaurant San Marco in Bochum. (Photo: Francis Cerny)

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