HECTIC TIME: Junaidah Juss will race in Gunung Jerai MTB Challenge.
KUCHING: National mountain bike (MTB) rider, Junaidah Juss, will compete in three-back-to-back races in Peninsular Malaysia starting Sept 28.
This was disclosed by Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) cycling coach Dzukalfee Hassan who told The Borneo Post yesterday that Junaidah will race in Gunung Jerai MTB Challenge 2013 in Kedah (Sept 28), Langkawi (Sept 30) and finally Marang, Terengganu (Oct 6).
At Gunung Jerai, the rider will compete in the challenging 48km course with 781 metres of ascent and descent.
In Langkawi, Junaidah together with national No.1 Masziyaton Mohd Radzi, will represent Malaysia in the UCI-MTB Marathon Series and Langkawi International MTB Challenge.
The event from Sept 30 to Oct 5 will be participated by riders from countries such as China, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
Junaidah last competed in the Langkawi event in 2011 when she finished 10th.
In Terengganu, she will enter the third circuit of Harian Metro-Cuti Cuti 1Malaysia MTB Grand Prix at Bukit Mawi.
Junaidah’s gruelling schedule is necessary because MNCF, the national cycling body, expect national squad riders to compete in these races as part of their preparation for the SEA Games in Myanmar.
“By now it is obvious that she (Junaidah) has been selected to compete in the coming SEA Games and that is why she must compete in as many events in order to get the exposure and improve her stamina,” Dzukalfee explained.
The coach also disclosed that national cycling team manager for the SEA Games Arun Misnoh was impressed with Junaidah’s performance in the recent Siol Extreme MTB Challenge.