Asian Games 2026: Cyclists Liau and Tan Rise to Asiad challenge in Izu

The pair came in fifth in the Madison, only their fourth time competing in this category. Photo: SpexSG/ Bryan Foo

Much has changed for national cyclists Elizabeth Liau and Valencia Tan since they first met at a training camp in Nilai, Malaysia, in preparation for the 2022 Asian Track Cycling Championships.

“It was a little odd at first, having to share a bed with someone you literally just met. We were both very new in 2022, with her just starting out as a junior, and myself just getting onto the track.”

“We were both a bit clueless on the track (back then but we have definitely come a long way,” Liau said.

Since then, Tan has switched from sprints to endurance events. The pair have also competed at the SEA Games, debuted at the Commonwealth Games in July and have just made their bows at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

After opening her Asiad campaign with a 2hr 56min 53sec effort in the 91km women’s road race in Shinshiro on Sep 22, Liau then travelled almost twice that distance to the Izu Velodrome to join Tan in the women’s Madison, where they finished fifth on -19 points, scoring a sprint point on the 80th lap on Thursday (Oct 1).

“With a lot of training camps and race trips together, we’ve definitely become familiar with one another’s antics and can work together quite well without even communicating much, which comes in handy during races too.”

Liau (centre) and Tan (right) during their Madison event. Photo: SpexSG/ Bryan Foo

This was only their fourth Madison event together, having previously competed at the 2024 Junior Cycling Malaysia (JCM) Series, the 2025 President’s Cup, where they won bronze, and the 2026 Korea Track Cup, where they claimed gold.

“Being our first Madison at the Asia level, with powerhouses like Japan and Hong Kong that have been on the track with years of Madison experience, I feel like we fared not too badly. We came in expecting to put up more of a fight, but I think the skill gap was definitely showing.”

With their skill sets complementing each other, the pair make for a sensible combination.

“Pairing with Valencia for the Madison makes quite a lot of sense… We are both strong in our own ways and cover for each other’s weaknesses. While gaining a lap is not necessarily always possible, a more combative race is more towards my favour, while we do not lose out either if it were a more sprint-focused race as we balance each other out.”

“There is definitely much to work on. However, there were still some good points like how we didn’t miss any passes,” Liau said.

For the 24-year-old, who had a month-long training camp in San Pedro, Los Angeles, with former professional road cyclist and ex-teammate Chelsie Tan, the Games have ignited a fire in her belly.

“While my results may not have given me the outcome I wanted, the process to get to the Asian Games was actually really good. And if I am being realistic, the results are not bad, especially at this level, against Asia’s best and some world-class riders.”

“I hope to bring home the thrill it feels like racing with the big dogs of Asia, and maybe someday I’ll be a force to be reckoned with too.”

Meanwhile, Tan continued her campaign in the women’s omnium starting with a seventh-place finish in the opening 40-lap scratch race (28 points).

She added 26 points to her tally in the 40-lap tempo race, where she did well to stay with the pack and cross the line in ninth.

In the elimination race, she racked up another 26 points to stay eighth in the overall standings, where she finished eventually, after getting an additional sprint point from the points race.

In a stacked 13-woman field with Asian champion Chen Ning of China, Japan’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist Yumi Kajihara and Hong Kong’s reigning silver medallist Lee Sze Wing, Tan gave a good account of herself on her debut to stay competitive across all four races.

Tan racing against Asia's best at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Photo: SpexSG/ Bryan Foo

“I felt that the race was very tough both physically and mentally because all the riders seem to be very strong and have improved since the last time I competed against them. Personally, I felt like my preparation and condition were good leading up to this race, but looking back I have also realised that there is still much more work to be done to catch up to them,” Tan reflected.

With her mother and her mother’s friend in the stands, Tan felt “extra encouragement seeing them so excited to be there”.

Completing a four-race event, especially after a crash in her last race during the Asian Cycling Championships in March that resulted in a DNF (Did Not Finish), has led Tan to realise the importance of having strong willpower.

“Especially in my events, where the race can get very painful and intense at certain periods, and the mind has to take over because the body is at its limit,” she added.

But Tan credited the “hard racing and training” and “racing exposure” over the past year of major Games with getting her in tip-top shape for the Aichi-Nagoya Games.

“(I am) slightly fitter and stronger than I was last year. The hard racing and training have also developed my mental capacity to be able to tolerate more pain than I used to,” the 20-year-old said.

Tan (right) was grateful for Sim (left), who "kept everything in check" during all her races. Photo: SpexSG/ Bryan Foo

Coach Calvin Sim, who won gold in the men's Omnium event at the 2017 SEA Games, was exceptionally pleased at his charges’ display on the track.

“I'm absolutely thrilled with how they rode. An Asian Games debut comes with a lot of nerves, but they stayed focused and raced their hearts out.”

“Getting fifth in the Madison and eighth in the omnium proves they can mix it up with the best in Asia. This is just the beginning for both of them."

The 20th Asian Games are held in Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026. For the latest Team Singapore coverage and news, follow Team Singapore on their social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or visit the official Team Singapore website.