Six-men Corbusier squad for JohorBy Marshall Tiong

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Corbusier riders (from left) Afiq Harun, Iqbal Fernando, Yudhi Rachmad, Laurel L. Adrian, Charles Diking, Fito Prilanji, Zahin Harun and Zaid Ismail.

KUCHING: Team Corbusier, Sarawak’s only UCI team, are sending six cyclists to compete in the four-day Jelajah Kemahkotaan Johor 2015 starting on March 31.

KL-based coach Shaiful Helmi is the sporting director while Laurel Lauridsen Adrian is captain of the team which includes Charles Diking, Afiq Harun and Indonesian pros Fito Prilanji, Yudhi Rachmad and Iqbal Fernando.

Charles and Afiq are in their first stage event which is like their baptism of fire as neither has much race experience.

They are the products of the team’s development programme.

Charles was a runner who made a successful transition to cycling while the Harun siblings Afiq and Zahin were non-athletes who bloomed under the Corbusier programme.

In his first big event, Afiq acknowledged feeling nervous.

“It is both exciting and nervous at the same time,” said the 22-year-old. His younger brother Zahin, a Kuching Politeknik student, was supposed to be in the squad but withdrew as he has examinations pending.

With only a handful of races under his belt, Afiq has no illusion of what he can accomplish in his first multi-day event.

“I just want to be able to contribute and help my team leaders,” said Afiq.

“I want to also finish my first stage race and hopefully get a high ranking in the general classification.”

Besides the senior development squad, Corbusier has a junior programme.

“Our first batch of juniors will soon be transitioning to the seniors. We are going to start recruiting youngsters who can fit our programme,” said Safri Mohammed, Corbusier team principal.

They are looking out for prospective juniors as young as 12 years old.

Parents can contact the team which also have a Facebook page at fb.com/teamcorbusier.

Safri is hopeful of a good result from their first stage race since the 2013 Tour of Borneo.

The first stage will see the pack travel 129.6km from Danga Bay to Mersing.

The second day will be a key day with a 174.5km stage from Kluang to Muar.

The third stage is even longer at 186.6km from Muar to Danga Bay.

After 490.7km in three days of racing, April 3 is a rest day.

The last day will be a criterium in Johor Bahru.