Muhammad Raihaan Abd Aziz (Pic) and Muhammad Rafiuddin Zikara are among the six national cyclists training in Kundasang, Sabah for next month's SEA Games in Myanmar. BT file
Muhammad Raihaan Abd Aziz and Muhammad Rafiuddin Zikara (Pic) are among the six national cyclists training in Kundasang, Sabah for next month's SEA Games in Myanmar. BT file
National cyclists for next month's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Myanmar are in their final phase of training before the Dec 11-22 biennial meet.
The team of six, Muhammad Raihaan Abd Aziz, Muhammad Rafiuddin Zikara, I'maadi Abd Aziz, Ahmad Rifa'ie Hj Johor, Azmi@Loqman Hadzid and Reduan Yusop have been training in Kundasang, Sabah since Wednesday - and they will be there until Dec 6.
National cycling coach Yafiz Jamaludin will be focusing on training their speed and climbing, which is specific to the events they will be taking part in during the SEA Games.
The cyclists will be living at 1246m above sea level and training at 1600m for the entire duration.
"This range is good for altitude training to increase their hemoglobin that will boost their performance," Yafiz told The Brunei Times.
"They will be training on steep hills similar to the Games to prepare themselves," added Yafiz.
Trainings will see the riders go through three sessions a day from Monday to Thursday and Saturday.
They will only have two sessions on Sunday as it involves longer rides and one rest day on Friday.
Yafiz started his intensive training with all his riders staying at Sungai Kebun Sports Complex on October 7.
Yafiz plans to see all the cyclist peak at the right time for the SEA Games, where Brunei are set to take part in five different events during the games.
I'maadi, Raihaan and Rafiuddin will be competing in the cross country Olympics while Loqman, I'maadi, Reduan and Rifa'ie will be taking part in the team time trial.
Raihaan will be the only national rider in the individual team trial.
All six riders will enter the individual road race and team road race.
Yafiz has expressed his confidence in his riders for months, telling The Brunei Times in September that he felt the team had a good chance at winning medals in Myanmar.
"I'm really excited and 100 per cent focused for our preparation for the upcoming SEA Games," he said.
"If my plan flows through on the right schedule, we will definitely be able to bring back medals."
