PETALING JAYA: Loh Sea Keong is highly excited and jittery as well, as he embarks on a stint with professional cycling team Argos Shimano.
The 27-year-old, who is the first Malaysian and South-East Asian road racing cyclist to be signed by a World Tour team, left for Holland on Thursday to join their training camp.
“It was all swell for me after the announcement in November that I will be riding for Argos. I went to the Myanmar SEA Games last month where I finished fourth and after that I trained in Thailand. Only a few days ago it started to sink in that I’m going to start a new and big journey in my career,” said Sea Keong.
Sea Keong had a good run with continental outfit OCBC Singapore last year. He won a stage in the Tour of Thailand, finished second in the Malacca Governor’s Cup and won the Jelajah Malaysia.
Living abroad will not be new for Sea Keong as he started his professional career with China-based continental team Trek-Marco Polo from 2008-2011. The team spent most of the season in Europe.
However, the feeling is different for Sea Keong this time.
“It just struck me that I’m in it for the whole year and not just a few months. I know a lot is expected from me since I’m the first Malaysian to ride in a World Tour team.
“But I won’t let this feeling kill off my ambition. I know I’m in the team to do a job and I aim to do it well.”
Although his programme for the year is not yet clear, Sea Keong hopes the team will compete in the Le Tour de Langkawi from Feb 28-March 8.
“It would be great if Argos decide to take part in the Langkawi race but the decision is up to the management,” he said.
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