KUALA LUMPUR – National road cycling coach Mohd Yusuf Abdul Nasir emphasised that the Malaysian team’s presence at Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) was not merely symbolic.
Instead, their outstanding performance in the event showcased that the squad’s six riders could compete at a level comparable to some of the world’s elite cyclists.
The national team is comprised of captain Muhammad Zawawi (climber), Mohammad Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil (sprinter), Zulhelmi Zainal (sprinter), Muhammad Shaiful Adlan Mohd Shukri (climber), Mohammad Nur Aiman Rosli (all-rounder) and Muhsin Al Redha Misbah (climber).
Yusuf’s men ended the LTdL as the fifth-best Asian team.
They are ahead of some International Cycling Union Continental teams like JCL Team Ukyo from Japan, Hengxiang Cycling Team from China, and KSPO Professional from South Korea.
In the overall team classification, they finished in 14th place out of 22 teams.
This is due to some sensational performances from riders such as Aiman and Izzat.
Aiman wore the white jersey for Best Asian Rider after Stage 3 from Jeli to Baling, and Izzat recorded a top-five stage finish twice after crossing the finish line fourth in Stage 1 and fifth in Stage 8 yesterday.
Izzat’s exploits in Stage 1 saw Malaysia top the Asian and Overall classifications at the end of Day 1 of this year’s LTdL.
Yusuf had targeted his men to challenge for the Best Asian Team and Rider classifications, and through Aiman, they had achieved one of the two targets.
“For this year’s LTdL, our riders have emerged as the best Asian riders (during the stages) three times, that is a great achievement from us.
“Overall, I’m very satisfied with the performance of each rider. They proved that the national team is not here just to make up the numbers.
“This is the best team that I’ve ever had. They are still young, and I will speak with the upper brass at the National Sports Council and the Malaysian National Cycling Federation about keeping these six riders together,” said Yusuf.
But at the same time, Yusuf will not stand in the way of professional teams that want to acquire the services of his men since, at the moment, they don’t have any long-term programmes.
“If there are professional teams that want to sign my riders, I will not stand in their way. That will be good for them since we don’t have any long-term programmes at the moment.
“I don’t have a problem with my men leaving for pro teams as long as it extends their careers and boosts their performances,” said the 42-year-old. – October 2, 2023