Indonesian cyclists romp home with 1st two golds

Indonesian cyclists romp home with 1st two golds

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia set off on the right track in the 19th
SEA Games by claiming the first two golds in cycling.

Tonton Susanto sped to victory in the men's cycling 40km
Individual Time Trial (ITT) in 54:26.40 on the Jakarta-Cikampek
toll road.

Following him were Victor Espiritu of the Philippines
(55:13.62) and Sharulneeza Razali of Malaysia (55:53.42).

The Indonesian, who turned 24 on Sept. 24, had led the race
from the first lap in a time of 23:02.57.

"I was racing in my own country, and that motivated me," he
said.

This was Susanto's first SEA Games gold in the ITT 40km. He
won a gold and two silvers in the 18th SEA Games in Chiang Mai,
Thailand, in 1995.

A Japanese referee, Tatsuo Hayashi, said Susanto's performance
was very impressive.

"His average speed of 44.08 km per hour is very good," he
said.

Fifteen cyclists from eight nations participated. Cambodia and
Laos did not enter.

Susanto's feat was matched by countrywoman Nurhayati, who
crossed the finish line first in the ITT 20km.

Timed at 30:02.82, she edged compatriot Tuti Suhesti
(30:13.23). Tien Tran Thi Thuy of Vietnam (30:34.10) took the
bronze.

This was the first gold of Nurhayati's target of five in these
Games.

At the 18th SEA Games, Nurhayati had lost to Thai rival,
Chaleam Chamchun, in the same event. The 27-year-old Yogyakarta
resident still returned from Chiang Mai with two silvers.

Bounnoua Bounsouhak of Laos, who withdrew due to injury, was
the only no-show from the 11 participants. There were no entrants
from Cambodia, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia.

The host cycling team has targeted 10 golds from the 16 at
stake.

Young and old lined the race route to cheer on the cyclists.
Conspicuous among the sea of red-and-white Indonesian flags were
ones from Vietnam, handed out by members of that country's
delegation.

The toll road was closed from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. yesterday for
the races.

A deputy from the event's organizing committee, Mochammad
Hindarto, said he was satisfied with the handling of the events
and the public's response.

"I am really grateful that the event has run smoothly. We have
won international recognition and acceptance from the Asian
Cycling Federation for our standards.

I don't care if there may be a complaint from the local
federation."

He said the public support, both from the spectators and
motorists who patiently lined up waiting for the toll road to be
reopened, was overwhelming.

"I just received a report that the line reached up to three
kilometers. The two golds won today are the result of the public
support," he said.

A toll road attendant said that between 1,000 and 1,700
vehicles passed the Cikampek-Jakarta toll road on weekends from 7
a.m. to 2 p.m.

Up for grabs in cycling today is the men's 1,000-meter time
trial at the velodrome in Rawamangun, East Jakarta. Qualification
events are also being held in the men's sprint, individual
pursuit, team pursuit, and women's sprint. (icn)