Shahrul wants to help teammates win podium finish

KOTA BHARU: Terengganu Professional Racing Team (TSG) cyclist Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin aims to help his teammates to win the podium position in the third stage of the 2018 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) from Kota Bharu to Kuala Terengganu today.

The Terengganu-born said that his two teammates, siblings Mohd Zamri and Mohd Harrif Salleh, had a good chance to win the podium because they were familiar with the race route in their own home state.

“God willing, we will do our best to get a podium finish at home turf.

“Mohd Zamri and Mohd Harrif have an advantage as they are sprinters, but we have to keep an eye on the condition of the wind which is blowing quite strongly,” he told reporters yesterday.

Mohd Shahrul emerged as Malaysia's best rider after finishing 12th by clocking 5 hours 18 minutes 20 seconds in the 208.3-km second stage of LTdL from Gerik to Kota Bharu yesterday.

Commenting on the race yesterday, he acknowledged he had to leave his other teammates who were far behind during the climbing zone in Gerik and Titiwangsa, but was delighted to have emerged as Malaysia's best rider.

“I tried to get into the peloton group when heading to the finish line even though I almost fell after being hemmed in by the other riders, but luckily I managed to free myself to be among the top 15 riders.

“The team's strategy seemed to work well today, but luck was not on our side to get a podium finish because the route was quite challenging,” said Mohd Shahrul. - Bernama