Cyclists get revved up for SEA Games
Cyclists get revved up for SEA Games
Musthofid
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The national cycling team is keeping to a focused training
regime as the team to beat in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games
beginning in November.
The overall champion in cycling in almost every SEA Games
since 1997, Indonesia is taking part in all 12 of the sport's
events in Manila.
"We are looking to win five events," said secretary-general of
the Indonesian Cycling Association (ISSI) Sofian Ruzian.
Gold is expected in the men's 40-kilometer Individual Time
Trial (ITT), men's criterium, men's downhill, women's road race
and Individual Pursuit (IP).
The team won four gold and three silver at the 2003 Games in
Hanoi. Vietnam finished second with three gold and three bronze,
followed by Thailand (1-5-4), 2005 hosts Philippines (1-2-3) and
Malaysia (1--).
Tonton Susanto, who did not ride in Hanoi, will return to the
region's sporting scene in the ITT.
Hailed as one of Asia's best riders, Tonton is carrying out a
China tour with his Wismilak International Team. Among the
traveling team is Sama'i, who is fancied in the criterium in
Manila.
His strongest rival will probably be fellow Indonesian and
2003 gold medalist Ferinanto.
"It's a traditionally tough race in China. We hope the tour
will get Tonton in shape ahead of the SEA Games," Sofian said.
Other medal hopefuls include 2003 double gold medalist Santia
Tri Kusuma and Uyun Muzizah (women's road race), Sugianto
Setiawan (downhill), Suwandra and Rochmat Nugraha (IP).
Santia and Uyun led the five-strong Indonesian women's squad
to World Cup series in Australia and New Zealand early this year.
They also went on to a Vietnam outing in May.
ISSI is currently preparing the list of athletes for the
Manila campaign.
The road race team already completed an initial workout in
hilly Subang, West Java, and recently began their "intensified
training" in Rawamangun in East Jakarta. Among them is Santia,
who just returned from a two-month training stint in the
Netherlands.
Track trainer Ronny Yahya is optimistic about his athletes'
prospects in Manila.
"After a general workout in Subang, the athletes have entered
more specific training here...and they have made good progress,
particularly in endurance and strength," Ronny, three-time gold
medalist in the SEA Games, said.
"We use heavy gear in training and the athletes are able to
score the required time. It's amazing. Never before did they make
it.
"Based on their test, we are optimistic we could win gold in
Manila," Ronny said, adding that riders from Malaysia, Thailand
and Vietnam riders would present the toughest opposition.
Following the Tour de West Java and Tour d'East Java earlier
this year, the riders will face their final test when they take
part in the Tour d'Indonesia next month.
ISSI has added another six athletes, recruited after the ASEAN
championship in May, for a 10-strong mountain bike team.
All team members except Risa Suseanty have moved from their
usual training venue in Malang, East Java, to Bali in preparation
for the Asian Mountain Bike Championship in Bali on Aug. 20-Aug.
21.
Risa, silver medalist in Vietnam, is scheduled to return on
Aug. 8 from her two-week overseas training camp in Switzerland.
After winning the ASEAN event in Malang, downhill rider
Setiawan Sugianto said he was looking forward to a tougher
challenge in Bali.
"Only a few strong riders came to Malang. I wasn't pushed to
the limit, while in Bali, strong riders will not only come from
ASEAN but from other Asian countries," said Sugianto, who will be
bidding for back-to-back golds in Manila.
Cycling team
Men: Tonton Susanto, Amin Suryana, Samai, Harry Fitrianto,
Suwandra, Rochmat Nugraha, Rian Ariehan, Agus Yulianto, Fatahilla
Abdullah, Iwan Kartiwan, Kohar, Ferinanto, Edi Purnomo, Sugianto
Setiawan, Rio Susanto, Warkito, Agus Suherlan, Usman Ali, Dadi
Nurcahyadi, Andi Prasetyo and Bandi Sugito.
Women: Santia Tri Kusuma, Uyun Muzizah, Haryati, Wahyuti, Sri
Suyamti, Dahlina Rosyida, Risa Suseanty and Kusmawati Yazid.