PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's road cycling squad could get the chance to train alongside riders from UCI WorldTeam Astana as part of their preparations for the 2027 SEA Games.
The opportunity comes after the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kazakhstan Cycling Federation on Friday (July 17).
The Kazakhstan Cycling Federation was represented by its secretary-general, Zhetes Sulemanov.
MNCF president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill said the partnership would see Malaysian riders and coaches sent to Kazakhstan for training, while officials from both federations would also exchange expertise.
Kazakhstan is one of the traditional powerhouses in road cycling, with Astana competing as one of the UCI WorldTeams.
"The terrain there is different because it's mountainous. Here, our riders are always training on the same roads. Training alongside their athletes in a different environment will give our riders an extra push, so I think it will be very beneficial for our preparations for the SEA Games," said Amarjit.
MNCF are aiming to send the riders to Kazakhstan for training by the end of the year.
At last year's SEA Games in Thailand, Malaysia's road cycling team returned with two silver medals through Nur Aisyah Zubir in the women's road race and criterium, as well as a bronze in the men's team road race.
