BINTULU — National cycling legend Anuar Manan has called for more Malaysian cyclists to take the bold step of exploring their careers with foreign teams as this will not only benefit them individually but also aid the national squad in the long run.
In this edition of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL), 18 local riders participated, with two making their mark on foreign teams.
Muhammad Iqbal Daniel Mohd Nawawi, a gold medalist at the recently concluded Malaysia Games (Sukma), raced for the HengXiang Cycling Team from China, while Zulhelmi Zainal competed for the Nusantara Cycling Team from Indonesia.
Anuar views this as a positive development, noting that opportunities for Malaysian cyclists are limited, as the country currently has only two continental teams: the Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) and Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC).
Additionally, the national team faces financial constraints, as they are not part of the National Sports Council (NSC) programme.
For Malaysian cyclists to progress, they must take the initiative to go abroad, as local opportunities are limited and the competition is intense.
“I see no problem in joining smaller continental teams, as the most important thing is that these teams provide riders with a chance to race consistently throughout the year.
Anuar stressed that the primary purpose of going abroad is to gain valuable experience and compete in high-level races regularly.
“Over time, this will greatly enhance a cyclist’s endurance. You can clearly see the difference between teams that race frequently and those that only participate in three or four events a year,” he explained.
Throughout his 10-year career, Anuar competed for eight different teams, most notably with the Pro Team Champion System, based in the United States and Hong Kong.
While currently serving as a coach for the Terengganu State Sports Council (MSNT), he believes that if he had the same strength he did in his prime, he could compete with the current World Team riders in this year’s LTdL.
Anuar made history as the first Malaysian cyclist to win a stage at the LTdL in 2010 while riding for the South Korean team Geumsan Ginseng Asia.
His success paved the way for several other local cyclists to step onto the podium in subsequent editions.
“In the past, I raced purely on strength and energy, with very little strategy and experience. Back then, the LTdL competed with big names, as many World Teams were competing.
“However, the situation is different now. With all the experience I’ve gained, I believe I could make it to the podium in the LTdL today, provided I had the same energy I had when I was younger,” he added. — October 7, 2024