Jelajah Malaysia deserves upgrade

Overall winner Timothy Roe (second left) of Saving & Loans with green jersey winner Anuar Manan (second right) of Malaysia, red polka dot winner Abbas Saeditanha (right) of Azad University and white jersey winner Rauf Nor Misbah of Malaysia at the end of Jelajah Malaysia on Sunday . — Pic: MOHD YUSNI ARIFFIN

THE Jelajah Malaysia, with its RM4 million budget and the hyped-up atmosphere, no longer deserves to be maintained as an UCI 2.2 grade event.

It already serves its purpose as a development event, not just for Malaysia but for the region, albeit if others seem to benefit more from it than the host country.

With a 19-year-old overall winner in Australian Timothy Roe of the Savings & Loans team, the race is already one that should become the launching pad for future talents.

Again, local cycling fans had only the green jersey for the points classification win and two stage wins delivered by the reliable Anuar Manan, and apart from that there wasn't really much to shout about from the five Malaysian teams.

At least the white jersey for Malaysian riders changed hands to a fresh talent. After two years in the hands of the seasoned Suhardi Hassan, this time 23-year-old Rauf Nor Misbah took over for what is the best achievement yet in his career.
But the general classification, despite being without the best Asian riders on the start list, showed just how much more work needs to be done to raise the overall standard of Malaysian cyclists.

Yet again, the proceedings showed an improved level of fighting ability, but this just meant some meaningless attacks for points from intermediate sprints and categorised climbs, instead of any Malaysian being a real threat to those gunning for the overall title.

The race saw two Iranian teams -- eventual team champions Tabriz Petrochemical and Azad University -- combining well to maintain a stranglehold on proceedings in the first week, before crumbling in the hands of the Australian Savings & Loans outfit on the decisive Genting stage.

The Malaysians, after many experiences of the Iranian climbing ability that has proven decisive in many overall title wins, are now looking towards the Iranian mountains to improve in this area.

It may work, but back home there needs to also be an improved level of cycling.

Malaysia this year has three other UCI 2.2 grade events -- the Tour of Negri Sembilan, the Malacca Chief Minister's Cup and the Perlis Open -- all of which run on shoestring budgets, which is the main reason for having this lowest ranking for cycling events.

If Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek meant what he said about the development of the cycling community and the importance of giving the smaller clubs in the country a chance to compete at the entry level on the international stage, then more low budget 2.2 events should be developed.

The Jelajah Malaysia, with such a budget, should no longer remain in this category simply because it is too good an event to offer the same number of ranking points as those smaller races. If there needs to be races which Malaysians can win, then the three smaller races are ideal.

With Le Tour de Langkawi already at the pinnacle of UCI Asia Tour calendar races, there has to be something between the 2.2 races in Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Perlis and that race.

Something with bigger ranking points but at a level not too high as the LTdL is, for the cream of Asian cycling to chase what is most important in the UCI Asia Tour -- individual, team and nation ranking points.

An RM285,000 total prize packet, as the Jelajah Malaysia had this time, would also be more justified with 2.1 status as was offered by the International Cycling Union (UCI).

Thus, organiser 10-Speed Sdn Berhad should have just two options -- ensure the 2.2 race is maintained within a budget that is sustainable for the race, or accept the upgrading to 2.1 status for next year, which justifies the RM4 million budget.-NEW STRAITS TIMES