TSG on the right track

CURRENTLY ranked in the top 10 in Asia after accumulating over 500 points in the International Cycling Union (UCI) rankings, Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) are well on their way to achieving their 2017 target.

“Our target is to get top five overall and be in the top three in terms of Asian teams by the end of the season,” said team manager Danny Feng.

The team are currently prepping for the Tour de Tochigi on Mar 31-Apr 2.

Preliminary selection for Japan includes Malaysians Muhammad Adiq Husainie Othman, Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin, Amirul Fakhruddin Marzuki, Mohd Zamri Salleh, Mongolian Maral-Erdene Batmunkh, Indonesian Dadi Suryadi, Singaporean Goh Choon Huat and Briton Daniel Whitehouse, who finished fourth overall in 2016.

“We’re sending Whitehouse, who did extremely well in the Philippines. We also included strong riders like Batmunkh, Shahrul and Chooh Huat because the course should suit them well so we are targeting for stage and overall podium finishes.

“However, the weather during the end of March in Japan can still be pretty cold and it may create an issue for our riders since we can’t simulate the weather conditions here.”

Besides UCI races, TSG are also preparing riders for the Sea Games in August.

“Several TSG riders are likely to be selected for the Malaysian Sea Games team.”

“Harrif (Salleh) is the defending champion for the road and criterium events, so we will have to prepare racing and training programmes so they can perform well.”

TSG will again be coached by Jeremy Hunt after he produced positive results with the team after only three months — which included a stage victory and second overall in the Tour de Filipinas as well a King of Mountain jersey at the opening stage of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL). Farah Azharie