Top cyclist Lim Chae-bin (25th group, SS, Suseong) won the Daesang Speedon Cup, the first target cycling event of the year.
After undergoing rigorous training traveling between Changwon and Daegu throughout the winter, Lim Chae-bin entered the tournament in optimal physical condition. True to this, he showcased an overwhelming performance against other competitors from the preliminary round on Friday.
Also considered a strong competitor, Jung Jong-jin (20th group, SS, Gimpo) prepared for the tournament over three weeks of training in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and entered in good shape. He easily clinched a victory against Jeong Ha-neul (21st group, S1, Dongseoul) in the preliminary round and moved on to the finals after executing a bold lead in the semifinal.
Yang Seung-won (22nd group, SS), the leader of the Cheongju team, finished third in the semifinals to barely secure a spot in the finals. Park Jin-young (24th group, S1, Changwon Sangnam), Hwang In-hyuk (21st group, S1, Sejong), and Hwang Seung-ho (19th group, S1, Seoul) also performed well in the preliminary and semifinal rounds to make it to the finals.
Ultimately, the tournament once again boiled down to a contest between Lim Chae-bin, the reigning champion, and Jung Jong-jin, the only competitor considered a threat, building off last year's Grand Prix cycling event. Experts optimistically predicted Lim Chae-bin's victory, reaffirming his top position, while also forecasting challenges from Jung Jong-jin, Yang Seung-won, and Hwang In-hyuk.
In a similar atmosphere, the starting gun for the finals rang out.
From the outset, the tension between Lim Chae-bin and Jung Jong-jin was intense. Lim Chae-bin was strategically keeping himself ahead of Jung Jong-jin. Positioned in front of them was In Chi-hwan, who showed strong leadership, forming the initial placement, and as the lead guide broke away, the serious battle began.
The first athlete to make a serious move was In Chi-hwan, leveraging his endurance to start powerfully as he accelerated right after the whistle. Up until then, Jung Jong-jin, who had been watching closely from the back, began his attack as he exited the second corner, and Lim Chae-bin also started pedaling hard simultaneously.
With 200 meters to go before the finish line, the breathtaking duel between Jung Jong-jin, who reclaimed the lead, and Lim Chae-bin, who counterattacked, continued all the way past the fourth corner and onto the straight. Eventually, the outcome was decided right before the finish line. Lim Chae-bin surged ahead of Jung Jong-jin around 3 meters before the finish line, crossing it first. Jung Jong-jin and Yang Seung-won followed him.
Lim Chae-bin said, "I approached the race with a mindset that it was okay to finish second or third. It was difficult to predict the racing order at the start, but fortunately, I managed to secure a good position behind Jung Jong-jin, and I believe I won," adding, "This year, my goal is to race safely without any falls or injuries."
Meanwhile, this competition, held as a class target race, drew a lot of attention for the winners of both the selection class and the excellent class.
In the selection class final held at Gwangmyeong Race 5, all seven competitors were from the 29th group. Jeong Yun-hyuk (29th group, B1, Dongseoul), who successfully sprinted to victory after closely following the lead of Bae Gyu-tae (29th group, B1, Suseong), won the race. Along with his victory in the selection class, Jeong Yun-hyuk also achieved special elevation, allowing him to participate in the excellent class races starting from the next event. Jeong Yun-hyuk commented, "I will show confidence even in the excellent class. My goal is to quickly advance to the special class."
In the excellent class final held at Gwangmyeong Race 12, Yoo Tae-bok (17th group, A1, Gimpo) claimed victory. Yoo Tae-bok also achieved special elevation with this win, making his return to the special class. He stated, "I will always strive to be a dedicated and consistent athlete. I thank my family, who support me to focus solely on my training, and my teammates at Gimpo for helping me improve my skills."