Eurokars Group embarked on an endurance mission for Tour de Cure, a global initiative raising funds and awareness for cancer research.
“I was raised with the belief that our true purpose is to care for others, a value my parents instilled in me from a young age. When the Mavericks shared their mission, it resonated with our core commitment to our communities. While the physical journey was interrupted, the endurance of the human will remain unbroken.”
Ms Charmain Kwee, Group Executive Director and Co-Chair of the Sustainability Working Committee (SWC) at Eurokars Group
What was planned as a 900+ km cycling odyssey from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and back was cut short at 477 km by an unfortunate hit-and-run accident.
On 2 April, Mr Wilfred Diepeveen and Mr James Guardino (Jimmy) of the Specialized Mavericks set off from the MG Singapore showroom at 11 Leng Kee Road.
Jimmy, the 2024 National Masters Road Race Champion and 2025 National Masters Criterium Champion, completed the 420 km leg from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to honour his father, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
His journey spanned 19.5 hours in total, with 13 hours of elapsed riding time, doubling his previous personal best to turn his exhaustion into a tribute of hope for his family.
Wilfred, the 2023 National Masters Road Race Champion and 2025 National Masters Gravel Champion, intended to complete the full 900+ km return journey.
Having lost a teammate to leukaemia at 15 and witnessed a friend pass from lung cancer, Wilfred’s mission was fuelled by his uncle’s recent ‘incurable’ diagnosis.
Having already broken his own personal best for distance and endurance during the first leg of the trip, Wilfred turned back toward Singapore alone after only three hours of sleep in Kuala Lumpur.
He was 477 km into his journey when a speeding motorcyclist’s illegal overtake ended the journey in a split second.
“We are so used to the ‘happy endings’ of charity stories where every goal is met, but the reality is often more painful. Watching that accident unfold from the support vehicle made me feel like a helpless spectator, mirroring the exact way families feel when they watch a loved one struggle with a diagnosis they cannot control. Despite the tragedy, we were deeply moved by the bravery of local Malaysian witnesses who immediately gave chase to try and intercept the motorcyclist. That selfless spirit showed us that even when things go wrong, there are always people willing to stand up and fight alongside you.”
Ms. Gem Ng, Head of Group PR and Communications at Eurokars Group
Specialized Singapore ensured the riders were equipped with the very best, including the S- Works Roubaix SL8.
“Co-driving the support vehicle, I saw the raw grit it takes to keep your legs moving when your muscles are cramping and screaming to stop, yet Wilfred and Jimmy never let their average speed drop. In those gruelling hours, being able to look over and see your teammate right there, rather than staring at a lone back wheel in a single file, was the only thing that kept their spirits from breaking.”
Mr. Desmond Cheong, Head of Singapore and Malaysia Owned Retail at Specialized Asia Pacific
The journey concluded with a gathering at the MG Singapore showroom. Though the cyclists were prevented from reaching their final destination, the community came together to mark the completion of a mission that transcended distance.
There was no medal for this Tour de Cure, but every heart in the room understood that every single pedal stroke had brought the community closer to a cure.
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