PETALING JAYA: Cyclist Mohd Harrif Salleh is optimistic of fulfilling his dream of featuring in the London Olympics.
The Terengganu Cycling team rider, who has come of age since he took over the mantle as the team’s lead sprinter after the departure of Anuar Manan, is confident of getting one of the two spots to London for the road event.
Malaysia secured two spots for the Olympic road cycling race on merit, a feat last achieved in the 1992 Games in Barcelona by M. Kumaresan.
“It is a big year for me, not only for taking over as the lead sprinter for my team but also the chance of an Olympic debut.
“I started out well by winning the opening leg of the National Cycling Grand Prix in Perlis in January before putting up a strong challenge in the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL),” said Harrif.
In the LTdL, Harrif scored two podium finishes (second and third place) in a tight battle with Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini), who recently won a stage in the Giro d’Italia by beating world champion Mark Cavendish.
The Terengganu rider scored another second place finish in the Tour of Borneo last month before turning on the power to win two stages in the Jelajah Malaysia recently.
“I think my results should speak for me when it comes to selecting the riders for the Olympics. I have given my best and delivered results when it matters.
“To ride shoulder to shoulder with top class cyclists will be a good yardstick to gauge my ability,” said Harrif.
The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) are expected to submit the two entries for the Games to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) on June 16.
Others in the running for the two spots are Mohd Adiq Husainie Othman, Mohd Zamri Salleh, Amir Mustafa Rusli and Anuar Manan.
Adiq is another hot favourite tipped to don the national jersey for the Games. In the recent Jelajah Malaysia, the Champion System rider bagged the points classification jersey and finished in seventh spot in the general classification (GC).
In the Tour of Taiwan in March, Adiq mounted the podium twice for third place finishes and ended 10th in the GC.
The Olympic cycling road race will cover a distance of 250km and riders will have to cover the most difficult part of the race – Box Hill – nine times before the finish.
“Critics would say the distance and the climb up that hill will make it hard for me as I’m a sprinter, but Cavendish will still be the favourite there and he is a sprinter as well,” said Harrif.
The Terengganu Cycling team rider, who has come of age since he took over the mantle as the team’s lead sprinter after the departure of Anuar Manan, is confident of getting one of the two spots to London for the road event.
Malaysia secured two spots for the Olympic road cycling race on merit, a feat last achieved in the 1992 Games in Barcelona by M. Kumaresan.
“It is a big year for me, not only for taking over as the lead sprinter for my team but also the chance of an Olympic debut.
“I started out well by winning the opening leg of the National Cycling Grand Prix in Perlis in January before putting up a strong challenge in the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL),” said Harrif.
In the LTdL, Harrif scored two podium finishes (second and third place) in a tight battle with Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini), who recently won a stage in the Giro d’Italia by beating world champion Mark Cavendish.
The Terengganu rider scored another second place finish in the Tour of Borneo last month before turning on the power to win two stages in the Jelajah Malaysia recently.
“I think my results should speak for me when it comes to selecting the riders for the Olympics. I have given my best and delivered results when it matters.
“To ride shoulder to shoulder with top class cyclists will be a good yardstick to gauge my ability,” said Harrif.
The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) are expected to submit the two entries for the Games to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) on June 16.
Others in the running for the two spots are Mohd Adiq Husainie Othman, Mohd Zamri Salleh, Amir Mustafa Rusli and Anuar Manan.
Adiq is another hot favourite tipped to don the national jersey for the Games. In the recent Jelajah Malaysia, the Champion System rider bagged the points classification jersey and finished in seventh spot in the general classification (GC).
In the Tour of Taiwan in March, Adiq mounted the podium twice for third place finishes and ended 10th in the GC.
The Olympic cycling road race will cover a distance of 250km and riders will have to cover the most difficult part of the race – Box Hill – nine times before the finish.
“Critics would say the distance and the climb up that hill will make it hard for me as I’m a sprinter, but Cavendish will still be the favourite there and he is a sprinter as well,” said Harrif.
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