A truck carrying nearly 30 bicycles and competition equipment for the Vietnamese and Singaporean cycling teams unexpectedly caught fire en route to the competition venue in Thailand. This unfortunate incident occurred just before the 2025 Asian Road Cycling Championships, causing significant property damage and affecting the morale of the athletes.
The fire occurred on the evening of February 5th, shortly after the Vietnamese team arrived at their hotel in Phitsanulok, Northern Thailand. According to initial reports, all bicycles and competition equipment on the truck were completely destroyed. Estimated damages amount to billions of Vietnamese Dong, including specialized bicycles valued at approximately 200 million VND each, along with expensive protective gear, shoes, and helmets.
Coach Mai Cong Hieu shared with VnExpress regarding the incident: “We had just arrived at the hotel at 8 PM when we received the devastating news. All the bikes and competition equipment were completely burned, a total of nearly 30 bikes. The property damage is substantial; we haven’t been able to calculate the exact amount yet, but it could reach several billion Dong.”
The athletes had been training throughout the Lunar New Year in preparation for this important tournament. The loss of all their competition equipment has put the entire team in a difficult situation. Coach Hieu added: “We had been training throughout Tet to come to Thailand for this important tournament. Now, the team doesn’t have any equipment to compete with. It’s incredibly disappointing and sad. We don’t know how we’re going to handle this situation; we have to wait for the organizers and leadership to discuss it.”
The Vietnamese delegation participating in the tournament includes team leader Nguyen Ngoc Vu, two coaches, Mai Cong Hieu and Huynh Van Chanh, along with 5 female athletes, 2 male athletes, and 10 young racers. The 2025 Asian Road Cycling Championships will take place from February 7th to 16th, bringing together nearly 500 of the continent’s top athletes. This tournament is also part of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) competition system, helping athletes gain experience in preparation for the 33rd SEA Games. The incident of the truck carrying bicycles catching fire is a major loss for the Vietnamese team, posing many challenges for the coaching staff and athletes before the important tournament.
Burnt remains of bicycles and equipment after the truck fire
