Cyclists revved up for November
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), the Philippines (1-2-3) and Malaysia, with one gold.
Tonton Susanto, who did not ride in Hanoi due to injury, 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 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 in the 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 a heavy gear in training and the athletes are able to score the required time. It's amazing, they've never made it before.
"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, a 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.