Spanish club’s Zhe Yie a boost for national team at LTdL

PETALING JAYA: The national cycling team have received a timely boost after securing the services of Kee Zhe Yie for the upcoming Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL), starting on Sept 28.

National coach Mohd Yusof Nasir said it was an unexpected opportunity after Zhe Yie, who previously rode for Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG), switched to Spanish club Caja Rural-Alea.

With the Spanish outfit not competing in this year’s LTdL, it opened the door for the national team to call him up.

Yusof said he had also spoken with TSG’s management to ensure there would be no conflict in Zhe Yie donning national colours for the race.

“The move to bring in Zhe Yie began when Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) were training in Spain recently and he secured an attachment to ride with a club there,” said Yusof.

“This means he has already switched clubs, and he is now automatically eligible to compete with the national team.

“On top of that, the Spanish club he represents will not be competing in this year’s LTdL.

“In fact, Zhe Yie himself approached his original team, TSG, to ask if there was a chance for him to ride in the LTdL.

“We have also been in touch with TSG’s management to ensure there is no conflict over him representing the national team,” said Yusof.

It is almost a homecoming for Zhe Yie, who first featured in the LTdL three years ago with the national team under Yusof’s guidance.

At 19, he made several strong bids to stay with the leading pack and on a few occasions was the first local rider across the line, including a 39th-place finish on the gruelling third stage to Genting Highlands.

He also had the opportunity to train under former national coach Syed Mohd Hussaini Syed Mazlan and gained valuable experience from Malaysian cycling legend Anuar Manan when representing Terengganu at the 2022 Sukma.

Malaysia’s national team are set to announce their six-man line-up at a press conference today.