KUALA LUMPUR – Despite feeling doubtful about the challenging route at the National Road Cycling Championships, Nur Aiman Muhammad Rosli’s persistence paid off as he clinched his fifth consecutive title in the individual time trial event at Kuala Kubu Bharu.
The Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) rider told Scoop that a gruelling uphill route over 30.3km in distance shook his confidence before the race but a burning desire to retain his title pushed the 24-year-old to victory.
“I am happy to win my fifth title, this was the target coming into this championship.
“I was not confident when I saw the route at first. After the flag-off, the course went straight uphill for 30km. There were no flat portions to it.
“I just gambled and pushed hard for the win. It was a difficult climb but I knew I could do it,” said the Johor-born rider to Scoop when contacted.
Aiman, who wore the white jersey for the Best Asian Rider classification in Stage 3 of last year’s Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL), crossed the finish line with a time of 55min 0.446sec.
He was 1:33.990 ahead of Muhammad Zawawi Azman of Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) who finished second.
Daniel Purwanto of Indonesia, riding for Kelapa Gading Bikers Jakarta, rounded up the podium.
Aiman, whose previous individual time trial titles came in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, will take part in the men’s elite road race on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in the under-23 category, Kee Zhe Yie added more joy to TSG after he defended his individual time trial title.
This is his third title after winning in 2021 and 2023.
His time of 55:33.411 was 36.536sec ahead of Tsen Ren Bao of the Kuala Lumpur Cycling Association.
Muhammad Syawal Mazlin from MPC completed the podium. – March 8, 2024