Cyclists to warm up at Asian Championships

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian cycling team will use the Asian Championships in Taipei in mid-July as a warm-up prior to the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in September.

Coach Rudy Gumulya said Tuesday that 16 cyclists would only compete in the warm-up event.

The Games squad had planned to compete in the Tour d'ISSI but apparently the event will be staged after the Games.

"If the Indonesian Cycling Association (ISSI) has the budget, we want to have a go at more than one event," Rudy said as quoted by Antara.

The national team comprises 50 cyclists who are being groomed in West Java, East Java, Yogyakarta and Jakarta. The number will be reduced to 22 male and 12 female athletes.

The ISSI aims to win nine out of the 20 gold medals at stake in the Sept. 8 to Sept. 17 biennial event. (yan)