Transmenu powered by JoomlArt.com - Mambo Joomla Professional Templates Club

Share this Mister Wong Digg Del.icio.us Slashdot Furl Yahoo Technorati Newsvine Googlize this Blinklist Facebook Wikio Print E-mail

KUALA LUMPUR: Experienced local rider, Mohd Jasmin Ruslan who represents Terengganu Toshiba Bike Labz looking forward to be the first to arrive at the finishing point in his hometown, in Kuala Terengganu during Jelajah Malaysia (JM) 2009 that will be held from 19th to 26th this month.

Nevertheless, he who is the team leader and strategist in the team realize the challenge will be fierce as he is not the only one who hopes to be the pride of the state in the 4th stage which will be a race from Pasir Mas to Kuala Terengganu.

"There are quite a number of the riders who originated from Terengganu. If it is possible, I am looking forward to be the first rider from Terengganu who arrives at the finish," said the 27-year old rider who hails Cabang Tiga, Kuala Terengganu.

As the team leader who deems that his team is in good form Mohd Jasmin puts a high hopes to be in the top-three best overall team and also the best local team even though this is their first participation in JM.

Apart from Mohd Jasmin who represented the country in SEA Games, Asia Games and Commonwealth Games in 2006, the responsibility to realize the dream to obtain podium finish is hared among another five experienced riders consist of Mohd Nor Umardi Rosdi, Mohd Hariff Salleh, Mohd Saiful Anuar Aziz, Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin and Mohd Saufi Mat Senan.

Mohd Nor Umardi used to be a rider of team LeTua, while Mohd Hariff and Mohd Saiful were in the MNCF team during Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) last year, Mohd Shahrul was a silver medallist in the road-race and criterium event in Arafura Games 2007, and as for Mohd Saufi, he used to ride for the national team in Asian Cycling Championship (ACC) held in Nara, Japan and Bangkok, Thailand.

The capability and combination of these riders has been proven in Criterium Singapore where three riders of the team dominated the race as Mohd Saiful became the winner, Mohd Shahrul the first runner-up while Mohd Nor Umardi in third.

As the strategist, Mohd Jasmin said that Mohd Nor Umardi and Mohd Saufi will be the challengers at the climbs as Mohd Hariff and he himself at the sprint zones while Mohd Shahrul and Mohd Saiful respectively responsible as the domestic riders and ensure the break away from the bunch.

As JM will be held this coming Sunday, Terengganu Toshiba Bike Labz under the supervision of coach Syed Mohd Hussaini Syed Mazlan is in light training after three months of intensive training along the routes of this year’s edition of JM.

"We have reduced to light riding nearby to keep the fitness at the utmost level but during the event, we will go all-out and by then I am totally confident the team will be at its best condition to be competitive against the others," stated Mohd Jasmin who has had nine years ever since he first donned the national jersey.

Executive Chairman Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz commented that Mohd Jasmin has vast experience both in tracks and road-race and is expected to excel in the upcoming JM 2009.

"With his experience in track-based training abroad, Mohd Jasmin is expected to be quite a challenge especially to sprinters and he has the capability to lead any of the stages during the race."

JM 2009 of 2.2categorization is organized by Ten Speed Events Sdn Bhd and will be held starting from this 19th to 26th April.

JM 2009 covers a total distance of 1,240km as Stage 1 will be from Kuala Selangor to Ipoh, Stage 2 (Ipoh - Sungai Petani), Stage 3 (Gerik - Tanah Merah), Stage 4 (Pasir Mas - Kuala Terengganu), Stage 5 (Kuala Terengganu - Kuantan), Stage 6 (Kuantan - Bera), Stage 7 (Tanjung Malim - Genting) before ending the race in a Criterium race at Dataran Merdeka.