21-07-2025
TSG: We can't share our time trial bikes
KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) confirmed they have time trial bikes which they can use if their riders compete for the country at the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20).
They, however, cannot lend the bikes to non-TSG riders in the national squad, said TSG chief operating officer Nasiruddin Wan Idrus.
This is due to contractual obligations the UCI continental team has with its sponsors.
"We don't know which riders will be called up for the Sea Games yet," said Nasiruddin recently.
"We do have time trial bikes but they are only for our riders.
"Our sponsors provided us with the bikes for our riders to use. We cannot share them with other riders (from other teams) called up to the national team.
"And these bikes have specific sizes, so sharing them is not that simple."
The National Sports Council (NSC) earlier this month asked the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) to choose between sending TSG or Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) riders to the Sea Games.
NSC added that TSG is already equipped with time trial bikes and thus does not require additional funding to purchase new time trial bikes.
MNCF, however, insisted they will select the most in-form riders to represent Malaysia at the Sea Games, regardless of which team they are from.
The individual and team time trial events are seen as Malaysia's best bet to win gold in men's road cycling at the Sea Games this year.
This is because hosts Thailand have opted to include steep climbs in the mass start road race to boost their own riders' chances of winning gold.
