High- value show in Nilai

Clash of the titans: Holland’s Harrie Lavreysen has been the world’s best track cyclist for the past decade. Inset:

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian cycling fans are in for a rare treat when the nation hosts the Track World Cup meet for the first time in Nilai end of this month.

Not only will they witness probably what is Azizulhasni Awang’s last ride on home soil but an intense fight is also on the cards with the best riders assembling at the National Velodrome in Nilai.

Azizulhasni Awang is gearing up for what could be his last ride on home soil.

Multiple Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen of Holland, Matthew Richardson of Britain and Trinidad and Tobago’s Nicholas Paul are among the top cyclists who have confirmed participation in the event from April 24-26.

Lavreysen, 29, has been the best track cyclist in the world for the past decade, having amassed 20 world titles and five Olympic gold medals thus far.

But he recently suffered his first sprint defeat in seven years, losing to Richardson at the European Championships in Turkiye in February.

Malaysian National Cycling Federation president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill was pleased with the number of nations who have committed to racing at the final leg of the World Cup.

“We have managed to get 46 nations to send participants after the deadline closed two days ago and that is a World Cup record,” said Amarjit.

“To get 370 riders from 46 countries to come here is amazing as only 30 nations competed in the opening leg in Perth (March 6-8) and only 42 will be racing in the second leg in Hong Kong (April 17-19).

“Top riders such as Harrie Lavreysen and the former sprint world record holder Nicholas Paul will also be racing here.

“The quality of the field is similar to that of the World Championships.

“And of course we will have eight of our own local riders under the Podium Programme competing, including Datuk Azizulhasni Awang and Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom, who is recovering well from his knee injury.

“I hope fellow Malaysians will turn out in full support as this is a rare chance to see the best riders in action as we do not know when we will get to host this event again after this.

“And not forgetting, this is the last chance to see Azizul racing on home ground for the last time.

“I am also happy to announce that the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah has agreed to officiate the opening ceremony on April 24.

Amarjit added that they also managed to sell 1,000 tickets for the meet in Nilai.

The National Velodrome have a seating capacity of 2,000.