Track cyclists test upgraded WX-R bikes
Published on: Friday, July 19, 2024
By: Bernama
The new WX-R bikes reportedly costs RM385,000 each.
Kuala Lumpur: The national track cycling team got their hands on the latest version of the WX-R Vorteq bikes, specially brought from the United Kingdom ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, scheduled from July 26 to August 11.
Three Olympic-bound track cyclists - Datuk Mohd Azizulhasni Awang, Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Nurul Izzah Izzati Mohd Asri - are currently familiarising themselves with the upgraded version of the bike at the Illes Balears Velodrome on the secluded island of Mallorca in Spain.
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Mohd Azizulhasni, the 2017 keirin world champion who is set for his fifth Olympic appearance, said all three of them are in the best shape and determined to succeed with the new version of the bikes.
“We are indeed thankful that we get to use the new bikes in Mallorca. Personally, having won the bronze in Rio 2016 and silver in Tokyo 2020, I am aiming for the pinnacle.
“Although there will be strong opposition from riders from the Netherlands, Japan, Australia and Great Britain, I believe I am on par with them, particularly now that we are equipped with an upgraded version of the machine.
“I want to prove something and repay the trust given to me all this time by bringing home the first Olympic gold medal for Malaysia,” he said in a social media posting by the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) on Thursday.
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The 36-year-old also thanked Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, OCM president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, the Road to Gold Committee (RTG), National Sports Council (NSC), and National Sports Institute (NSI) for their assistance all this while, including the new bikes, reportedly prized at RM385,800 each.
Meanwhile, Chef-de-Mission Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, who visited the track cycling squad on Wednesday, said the three cyclists were very excited and full of enthusiasm ahead of their events.
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“Aside from sharing with them words of encouragement before they leave for Paris, I was given a full briefing on their preparation status at the training camp.
The opportunity to train using the new WX-R Vorteq machines has given them much-needed impetus,” he said in the same posting.
Muhammad Shah Firdaus, who is ready for his second Olympic outing after his Tokyo 2020 debut, and debutant Nurul Izzah Izzati, are also eager to produce their best performance when the track cycling competitions begins at the National Velodrome in St Quentin-en-Yvelines, around 40 km from Paris.
Mohd Azizulhasni and Muhammad Shah Firdaus will begin their campaign in the men’s sprint qualifiers on Augt 7 and keirin on Aug 10, while Nurul Izzah Izzati will start her quest in the women’s keirin on Aug 7, followed by the sprint event two days later.
According to OCM, the cycling squad will continue their training in Mallorca until they check in at the Paris Games Village in St Denis on Aug 1.
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