Skip to main content

Rizal goes the extra mile on the highway


By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: National track cyclist Rizal Tisin (pic) has been pushing himself hard over the last few weeks, covering a punishing distance of 100km on the Putrajaya Highway.

But what’s a track cyclist doing on the highway?

The answer may come as a surprise because Rizal is now gearing up for a new track discipline – the 4km individual pursuit with a possibility of contesting it at the Asian Games in Guangzhou next year.

It will be a different training regimen altogether for Rizal, who bagged a first-ever bronze medal for Malaysia in the 1km time trial at the World Championships in Poland in March.

The 1km time trial is a sprint race against the clock while the 4km individual pursuit sees two riders starting at the same time from opposite sides of the track in a bid to complete the distance in the fastest time.

Rizal, already a holder of a prized World Cup gold medal and the Asian record holder after three years of dabbling in the 1km time trial, initially had reservations about taking up a new discipline.

“My coach John Beasley wanted me to try out for the 4km individual pursuit as there is talk that the 1km time trial may not be contested at the Asian Games,” said the 24-year-old Rizal.

“If that is the case, now is a good time to start gearing up for the individual pursuit.

“That’s why I have been clocking the mileage on the highway to build up my endurance level.

“I have been entered for the event in the track cycling competition of the Mini Olympic Games next week.

“It will be the only event I am taking part in as there is no 1km time trial.”

Rizal, always ready for new challenges, said he was game to take on Fauzan Lufti, the current national record holder in the 4km individual pursuit.

“If I do well, there is the possibility I may be entered for this event at the Asian Championships in Kalimantan next month apart from defending my 1km time trial title,” said Rizal.

Rizal was formerly trained for the keirin and ended a 19-year Malaysian wait for an Asian Championships gold medal when the meet was held in Kuala Lumpur in 2006.

But the emergence of Azizul Hasni Awang saw Rizal switching to the 1km time trial discipline and he has since made Asian cycling proud with his exploits.

Beasley may have good reasons to try out Rizal as it is not impossible for a rider to excel in two different disciplines.

Nineteen-year-old American Taylor Phinney, who is part of the Under-23 team managed by Lance Armstrong, is testimony to this after winning the world title in the 4km individual pursuit and taking silver in the 1km time trial.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ex-coach's jail sentence cut to a year

PUTRAJAYA: The Court of Appeal yesterday sentenced former athletics coach C. Ramanathan to 12 months' jail for molesting two junior athletes 19 years ago. A three-man bench led by Datuk Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus unanimously dismissed Ramanathan's appeal against conviction, but varied the jail sentence of four years to a year, which was to run concurrently. Following yesterday's ruling, Ramanathan, 75, a former teacher, walked out a free man as he had served 10 months in Kajang Prison. Convicts get one-third remission for good behaviour while in prison. However, he will lose his pension. Hishamudin, who sat with Datuk Abdul Wahab Patail and Datuk Linton Albert, said the court found no merit to overturn the conviction. "However, in reducing the sentence, we considered Ramanathan's age and the long years the appeal has taken." Deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud submitted that then High Court judge Tan Sri Abdull Hamid E...
2 comments
Read more

Govt Always Gives Emphasis To Sporting Culture, Says PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, May 29 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badaw i said the government always gives emphasis on cultivating a strong sporting culture in achieving excellence at the international level. As such, the Prime Minister said, it was important to scout for young talents in sports. "I observe that the Malaysia Games (Sukma) has become one of the important platforms to do so. "In this arena, the potentials and skills of the youngsters can be identified for development so that they can achieve greater success in sports," he said in his message in the souvenir book of the 12th Sukma from May 31 until June 9. Abdullah said he was aware that competition in sports was very keen and challenging but this did not mean that Malaysian athletes were incapable of competing at the international level. "The fact is that we have all the characteristics required to be excellent. We must inculcate a strong fighting spirit so that we don't easily surrender,...
1 comment
Read more

Chance to catch Messi and company

  FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and vice president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin with FC Barcelona chief executive officer Antoni Rossich yesterday. Pic by Osman Adnan LIONEL Messi's presence alone could sell half the tickets despite reigning world club champions FC Barcelona's date with a Malaysian XI at the National Stadium on Aug 10 falling on the third day of Hari Raya. The much anticipated visit of the four-time European champions comes with expectations from fans who want a full star-studded line-up. "The summer will be a busy period with a lot of uncertainty with players moving away and coming in. "But yes, our plans are to bring our full team here," said FC Barcelona chief executive officer Antoni Rossich yesterday. Rossich was speaking at the announcement of the friendly match, which is part of the three-match FC Barcelona Asia Tour 2013, which sees the giants also visiting China and Thailand. Also pre...
2 comments
Read more