KUALA LUMPUR — The national cycling team wrapped up a challenging campaign at the World Track Cycling Championships in Ballerup, Denmark, with performances falling short of expectations, especially in the absence of cycling icon Datuk Azizulhasni Awang.
The new generation of riders, seen as the nation’s hopefuls, struggled to shine on the world stage.
Siblings Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Muhammad Ridwan Sahrom exited early in the sprint event, unable to advance beyond the first round. Though Shah showed some resurgence in the keirin, he could only manage a ninth-place finish.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s rising female cyclist, Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri, ended her keirin race in seventh place.
While it was not a podium finish, it marked significant progress compared to her debut at last year’s championship in Glasgow, where she was knocked out in the first round.
National track cycling team’s technical director, John Beasley, acknowledged the toll the intense Olympic campaign had taken on the riders, admitting that fatigue played a big role in their performances.
“Most of the big nations have a large roster of quality athletes that they rotate through the Olympic qualification process, and then they select their best for the Olympic Games. We, on the other hand, have only a few athletes who have had to compete everywhere, so they need a break.
“The post-Olympics period is the time for that break before we begin the next campaign. We put in a lot of effort to achieve good performances in Paris, and that took a toll on everyone, including personal sacrifices and the commitment we made to each other. We all needed a break,” he said.
Beasley also highlighted the importance of balance and preparation for big competitions.
“Unfortunately, the team isn’t made up of robots, we need to get a lot of things right to be ready for big competitions. I hope everyone understands.”
Despite the lack of medals, Beasley praised the determination of his riders, particularly Shah Firdaus, who was unwell before the competition began.
He also commended Ridwan, noting his potential but lack of experience at the world-class level.
“Shah’s illness has impacted his performance here in Denmark, while Ridwan showed solid effort, though he couldn’t achieve his best result, likely due to inexperience.
“Ridwan is highly talented but still needs more time to reach his peak performance when it matters most,” he added.
In the sprint, Shah faced Joseph Truman, who was in top form after missing out on the Olympics and advanced to the quarterfinals. — October 25, 2024