Memories, even so small....

It was right about this time of the year, 12 months ago, when the pro peloton prepared for the Pro Tour race - GP Ouest France-Plouay. And status quo remains this time around with an expectant crowd awaiting another Thomas Voeckler special. The Bouygues Telecom rider won with an explosive burst in the final three kilometres of the race last year.
But Voeckler, whom I came to know and like after meeting him in Le Tour de Langkawi last year, is not what this part of the year symbolises.
I remember very clearly how on September 3 last year I received a startling sms all the way from France last year. I still have that all important sms in my phone because it was something I had been dreaming of.
"Abg nak tulis cerita, sekarang boleh tulis. Saya tadi buat breakaway, terus menang. Cepat tulis!" (If you want to write a story, now you can write. I did a breakaway and just won a race. Write quick!) The message came at about 8pm on Sept 3.
"Kau menang? Nombor berapa? Race apa?," I replied. "Kalau menang tu, nombor satu la, apa lagi! GP Soultz-sous-Forets. Cepatla, selalu nak tulis cerita, skarang tulislah kasi keluar besar-besar sikit, biar orang tau rider Malaysia boleh menang kat sini."
Young Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi was heading towards the end of his three-month stint with French club ASPTT-Mulhouse and he'd become the first Malaysian road cyclist to ever register a victory on European soil.
He's no publicity slut, the playful Fauzan. He'd worked hard to get there, just to ride in Europe and he was determined to make that chance he got count.
A year down the road, Fauzan is back here in Malaysia, riding in the national road programme, which is now probably going to be torn apart. They don't have a coach and are looking at a Swiss unknown named Jolidan Jecker to take charge of the team. No offence to Jecker, but hope he can cope.
This is the usual story with Malaysian cycling. We get things up and running for a while, then suddenly everything comes to a halt, just because some people are not involved and they don't agree with others making things happen.
Anyway, I'm not gonna vent my frustrations here. Just giving some food for thought..... And some hope that thought is given...