No hype, just home ride

One step at a time: Azizulhasni Awang hopes to qualify for the final first before aiming for the podium in the Track World Cup. – Bernama

NILAI: National cycling icon Azizulhasni Awang has tempered expectations ahead of what could be his final appearance on home soil at the Track World Cup in Nilai from April 24-26.

With the world’s elite set to converge – including Dutch powerhouse Harrie Lavreysen and Britain’s Matthew Richardson – Azizul expects a fierce battle but insists he is not yet at peak condition.

“I hope to first qualify for the final and then aim for the podium. To say I want to win would place expectations too high,” said the 38-year-old after a visit session by Youth and Sports Minister Dr Taufiq Johari.

Azizul, who has yet to enter his tapering phase, views the Nilai meet as a stepping stone towards bigger targets – the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (July 23-Aug 2) and the Asian Games (Sept 19-Oct 4).

The Dungun-born rider heads into the event on the back of an impressive outing in Perth, where he stunned the field to win the keirin in a thrilling photo finish against Richardson, and added a bronze in the sprint.

Describing the performance as an eye-opener, Azizul said it proved he remains capable of beating the world’s best even without being at his peak – a belief that continues to fuel his preparations.

“I’m still not at my best, but it showed that even at a moderate level, I can compete and win,” he added.

Azizul had skipped the Asian Championships in Tagaytay to focus fully on Nilai, where he now aims to build momentum.

Meanwhile, Taufiq said that the Road to Gold (RTG) programme will undergo a review next month as part of efforts to refine the nation’s high-performance strategy.