Mirza confident of being third time lucky
UAE Team Emirates rider wants to make amends at Jakarta Asian Games
Having lost out on winning a medal at the Asian Games not once but twice, UAE’s ace cyclist Yousuf Mirza is keen to get the monkey off his back this time round.
Mirza, who rides for UAE Team Emirates at the UCI World Tour, will be heading to the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games in August as hot favourite after having won the Asian Championship earlier this year.
However, he is in no mood to commit the mistakes that cost him in the past and is keeping his cards close to his heart. “I lost the medal in Incheon, South Korea in 2014 because I showed all the riders that I was keen on winning the medal. It was heartbreaking,” said Mirza on the sidelines of the UAE Team Emirates Youth Academy launch yesterday.
“Other riders got to know that I was more keen for that medal and they were all following me in the last 15 kms from finish. I was in the breakaway group. I pressed a bit too hard and paid a heavy prize in the end. This time I don’t want to do that and show that hunger,” said Mirza.
“The rules have also changed and so I will not be racing alone. Three of my teammates will be there in road race. Ahmad Mansouri, Mohammad Mansouri and Saif Bin Zayed. Their support is going to be the key. Having won the Asian Championship in Malaysia in February, all the riders will be focusing on me. But Inshallah, I will get at least one medal if not more,” asserted Mirza, who will be taking part in the Japan International Tour next having recovered from a crash in Slovenia last week.
“Following the crash, my body needed a bit of a time to recover but will be in the best of shape for Japan. Then from there I go for training in Italy with my UAE Team Emirates and then I do a tour in Holland. From there I will fly straight to Indonesia for the Asian Games,” informed Mirza, who ruled out taking part in the Tour de France this season.
Despite leading UAE’s challenge at the Asian Games in two disciplines — road and track, Mirza is confident he can deliver in both. His teammate Vegard Stake Laengen is also upbeat on his chances. “I know Mirza now for almost two years. When he was new in the team, I could see that he was not used to the professional peloton. But already now, I raced with him in the Tour of Slovenia two weeks ago and he has taken huge steps and worked for the team.”