Jutatip wins her third consecutive SEA Games criterium gold medal.
Jutatip Maneephan asserted her dominance by winning the women's criterium gold medal for the third consecutive time, marking Thailand's fifth cycling gold at the 33rd SEA Games. Meanwhile, the men's team secured a silver medal in the team time trial. "Sergeant Major Muek" expressed confidence in achieving the target of six gold medals after already winning five golds, three silvers, and one bronze.
On 14 December, the 33rd SEA Games road cycling competitions featured two gold medal events. In the morning, the men's team time trial took place, starting at Suan Burapha Prachapakdi in Prachinburi Province and finishing at Training Center 5 in Khao Yai National Park, Nakhon Nayok Province, covering 48.5 km. The start was officiated by "Sergeant Major Muek" General Decha Hemkrasri, vice president of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), president of the ASEAN Cycling Federation (ACF), and president of the Cycling Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, alongside Mr. Sanya Namee, deputy governor of Prachinburi, Colonel Natthapon Juanjaroen, chief of staff of the 2nd Infantry Division, King's Guard, and other local officials.
Six nations competed in the men's team time trial: the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand. Each team started three minutes apart, with the fastest time winning gold. The Thai team, consisting of Lieutenant Colonel Peerapol Chaochiangkwang, Sergeant Sarawut Siriranchai, Sergeant Thanakarn Chaiyasombat, and Corporal Noppachai Klahan, fought hard but finished with a time of 1:14:31 hours to claim silver. Indonesia took gold with 1:13:27, and the Philippines earned bronze with 1:16:08.
In the afternoon, the women's criterium gold was contested at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy in Nakhon Nayok. The race followed a circuit of 1.9 km per lap over 15 laps, totaling 28.5 km. Leading the Thai team was "Bee" Lt. Jutatip Maneephan, accompanied by Sergeant Supakorn Nantana and Sergeant Chaniporn Batriya. Jutatip, the two-time defending champion, sprinted fiercely in the final lap to finish first, claiming her third consecutive gold and Thailand's fifth cycling gold. Malaysia's Nur Isya Muhammad Subir took silver, while Vietnam's Nguyen Thi That, a longtime rival of Jutatip, secured bronze.
The medal ceremony was graced by General Decha Hemkrasri, president of the Cycling Association of Thailand, and Lieutenant General Pholsak Sriphen, vice president of the association, who presented the awards. Major General Kamsak Nipanun, chief of staff at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, also congratulated the athletes. To date, the Thai national cycling team has earned five golds, three silvers, and one bronze at the SEA Games.
After the competition, General Decha said Jutatip's gold was according to plan. He praised all three athletes for their efforts and commended Jutatip for her reliability in every race. Jutatip still has opportunities in two more events: the women's individual road race and the track scratch race. Although the men's team missed gold in the morning, the athletes gave their best, but Indonesia was stronger. The coaching staff will analyze weaknesses to improve for the upcoming individual time trials for both men and women, as well as the men's and women's road races. There are still several events left, and he remains confident the Thai cyclists will reach their target of six gold medals, having already won five.
Jutatip said that during the race, she told her two teammates to try to block the opponents, assuring them she would sprint in the final lap. Everyone trusted her because she was confident they were the fastest and strongest in the curves. In the final lap, she urged them to ride as they did in practice, having trained in all conditions. Their goal was to win gold for Thailand, and they succeeded, dedicating the victory to the Cycling Association, General Decha, and all Thai sports fans. She expressed her gratitude.
The 33rd SEA Games road cycling program on 15 December features two gold medal events: the women's individual time trial starting at 09:00 from Noen Hom Tourist Service Center to Training Center 2 in Khao Yai National Park, covering 29.2 km; and the men's individual time trial starting at 13:00 from Suan Burapha Prachapakdi in Prachinburi to Training Center 2 in Khao Yai National Park, covering 41 km.