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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.

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