MYANMAR-BOUND: Top local cyclist Junaidah Juss was among the top three Asian female competitors in the recent Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge.
KUCHING: State cycling coach Dzukaflee Osman feels that top local woman mountain bike (MTB) cyclist, Junaidah Juss, still need more exposure to prepare for the coming SEA Games in Myanmar.
“Her performance in the recent Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge (LIMBC) had shown us that she needs more exposure,” he said yesterday.
Junaidah finished in 16th place at the end of the five-stage championship while Malaysia’s number one, Masziyaton Mohd Radzi, came in 13th.
Dzulkaflee noted that Masziyaton was also the only Asian rider to finish in the top 10 of LIMBC’s prologue women open individual time trial held in Kuah on Sept 30.
“She (Junaidah) can basically keep up with the pace of competition but there is still a lot of work to be done especially where exposure and stamina are concerned,” Dzukaflee revealed.
Some 200 cyclists from 15 countries competed in the recent LIMBC which was hampered by incessant rain from day one.
“The condition of the tracks were very muddy and slippery since the opening race…many of the cyclists including Junaidah faced difficulties in getting the best time during the competition,” said Dzulkaflee who was also present during the competition.
“It was a good thing that she (Junaidah) had gotten used to her new bike and there was no problem for her to keep pace with the rest of them,” the coach observed.
The best Asian female competitor award was won by Indonesia’s Kusmawati Yazid while Masyizaton finished second and Junaidah third.
Next month Junaidah will defend her title at the Bintulu MTB Challenge from Nov 1-2. She will then compete in the National GP finals at Damansara, Shah Alam from Nov 16-17.