Sentimental return to Poland for Azizul
COMPETING in the opening leg of the 2017-2018 World Cup series in Pruszkow, Poland, this weekend will bring back good memories for track cyclist Azizulhasni Awang.
The BGZ Arena was where he won his first world championship medal in 2009 when he finished a close second in the sprint event behind Frenchman Gregory Bauge.
It will be a different scenario this time as he returns as the reigning world champion in the keirin.
"I will be competing with the Rainbow Jersey this time, obviously it is a dream for any rider. I have fond memories of Poland, I almost won the (world championship) gold here in 2009," said the CIMB Pro Cycling Team rider.
"The situation is a bit different this time as this (World Cup) leg, as well as Manchester (leg) next week, will be more of a warm-up event for us.
"I am still at an early stage of preparation this season and will build up as we move closer to the World Championships, Asian and Commonwealth Games as well as the Asian Championships next year."
Azizulhasni will be competing in his usual events, the sprint and keirin, in Poland.
The field in Pruszkow features a number of other big names including Commonwealth Games sprint champion Matthew Glaetzer (Australia), five-time world champion Theo Bos (Ned), South American champion Fabian Hernando Puerta Zapata (Colombia) as well as current keirin World No 1 Tomas Babek (Czechoslovakia). Azlan Muhammad Zain