Hello and welcome to the National Championships for South Korea, Mongolia and Thailand! 15 riders on the startline, with many riders from each nationality ready to do battle on the flat route.
Two riders formed the day's break, both representing the Shimano-Siam Cement team, but more importantly being from two different nations. Kritsada Changpad was present for Thailand and Gyung Gu Jang was there for South Korea.
As with all but one of the NCs so far this season, the day's break ultimately gave you the National Champions from those countries, so we just needed something from a Mongolian rider and the titles are sorted.
Luckily we would have that sorted, as Sonomtseren Delgerbayar (FNZ) followed an attack from Peerapol Chawchiangkuang (IDS) to head up the road with just under 15km to go. Chawchiangkuang's attack was bizarre, as he had over 5 minutes to make up in less than 15km. Ah well, it was enough to give us a Mongolian attacker so happy days!
A late attack from Changpad gave him the victory on the day and confirmed his Thai NC title!
A small distance behind him would come Jang to seal the Korean crown...
And after burying himself for 15km, Delgerbayar would just hold off a small group behind for the Mongolian title.
All the other riders would finish inside the time limit, so no DNFs here.
Onto the time trial and this should be an easy thing to sort out. We had one strong TT rider from each naton, so they are the winners, right? Right?
Gyung Gu Jang (SSC) was comfortable in his charge to be the Korean double Nation Champion. A gap of just over 40" was enough to give him the victory.
Phucong Sai-Udomsin (SSC) was the defending Thai champion, and he would hold onto the National TT jersey for another season. 1'10! was his gap to a team-mate in the battle for the Thai crown.
Now the Mongolian title was the more complicated one and was the one that could put my theory into doubt. Sonomtseren Delgerbayar (FNZ) was the big favourite, but a slow start to the race would thrown everything up in the air.
Maani Altanzul (FNZ) was his challenger to the crown, and at the first check, he was 5" up on Delgerbayar, and at the second check, he has just 2" advantage... Could he hold on?
Sadly for Altanzul, the race favourite would continue to eat into the gap and crossing the line at the finish, Delgerbayar would take the Mongolian TT title by just 3" over his teammate!
Kritsada Changpad
Gyung Gu Jang
Sonomtseren Delgerbayar
