Indonesia cyclists set to do it without Tonton
Indonesia cyclists set to do it without Tonton
Hanoi
The Jakarta Post
The Indonesian cycling team is looking to overcome Tonton
Susanto's hangover when it sets out for its medal hunt at the SEA
Games on Saturday.
Tonton, Indonesia's number one road racing cyclist, has
skipped the tournament, saying he did not get on well with
certain team officials.
His presence in the team would likely have boosted the team's
medal prospects, but team manager Sofyan Ruzian said that he
would not let himself be drawn into speculating.
"Even if he were here his chances would still be fifty-fifty
against his rivals," Sofyan told The Jakarta Post here on Friday.
Tonton, who handed the team one of its three golds in the last
SEA Games, is one of the best riders, not only in the region but
also in Asia. His cycling prowess lured Telkom Malaysia into
contracting him before he was released to the Surabaya-based
Wismilak Team.
He was shaping up well in the run-up to the SEA Games when he
won the Thailand Tour in September. He defeated Prajak Mahawong
of Thailand and Sahrlneeza Razali of Malaysia.
Sofyan said that even without Tonton the team would still be
looking to the race for four of ten gold medals on offer, to be
distributed between the Criterium, International Time Trial, Mass
Start and Mountain Bike (MTB).
"We have not changed the target. We are still confident about
our prospects," he said.
Arriving on Nov. 28 with 20 riders, the Indonesian team,
according to Sofyan, is banking its medal hopes on the Criterium,
women's Mass Start and MTB.
The Criterium event will be held at Hoan Kiem Lake in the
center of the city, the Mass Start and ITT in Bac Ninh province
and the MTB at Hoa Binh province.
"We have come here early to acclimatize ourselves to the
weather, and the riders are in good shape for the match," Sofyan
said.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian team rued Tonton's absence, with team
manager Amrun Misnoh saying that its competitiveness would reduce
somewhat.
He admitted to Sahrulneeza Razali's improved prospects in the
absence of Tonton.
"I heard that Tonton is not around. It's too good to miss the
competition without Tonton," he told the Post during a flight
between Kuala Lumpur and Hanoi on Wednesday.
"Prajak is probably the toughest opponent to beat," he said.
The Malaysian team brings Razali, Musairi Musa, Suhadi Hassan,
Sayuti Zhidi and Mahadir Mahadi, all of whom were teamed up in
their victory in the Tour de ISSI in Java in August. Norazian
Alias is the team's only female rider in the SEA Games.