Azizul will reuse Paris bikes to make it a memorable finale

Ready for action: National cyclist Azizulhasni Awang is fully prepared for the Games. — AFP

PETALING JAYA: National track cycling star Azizulhasni Awang is saving his best bicycles for his bid to make a memorable final appearance at the Commonwealth Games starting in Glasgow today.

The former keirin world champion had been using his older WX-R Vorteq track bikes during the UCI Track World Cup series this season.

The bikes are from the 2020 Tokyo Olympic edition and in black livery.

Azizul explained that he has refrained from using his latest bikes – from the 2024 Paris Olympics cycle – for a reason.

“I was using the old bikes for the World Cup campaign,” said Azizul.

“I opted not to use the Paris 2024 edition bicycle as I want to save them for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games after this.

“I have one (main bike) and one spare left,” said Azizul, who will be competing alongside Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom in the individual sprint and keirin events in Glasgow.

The Paris 2024 edition bikes feature various updates compared to the Tokyo edition and can be identified by their black and orange livery.

The 2024 model was developed at a cost of RM7.5mil, funded by the National Sports Institute, and were priced at RM385,000 each when they were launched.

Azizul added he has done everything possible in his preparations for his final Commonwealth Games campaign and is now leaving the outcome in God’s hands.

The 38-year-old did not compete in the last Games in Birmingham in 2022 as he was recovering from corrective heart surgery at that time.

“This will be my final appearance at the Commonwealth Games. I have done everything I could to prepare and now I leave the rest to Allah.

“Whatever the result at these Commonwealth Games, I will always be proud of myself. From a village boy with big dreams to representing my country on the biggest stages in the world, this has been a journey that I will always be grateful for.”

Azizul, who won back-to-back titles in the World Cup series this year, is still chasing his first Commonwealth Games gold medal.

His best achievements at the Commonwealth Games are winning two bronze medals.

He first claimed bronze in the team sprint at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi before winning another bronze in the keirin at the 2014 Glasgow edition.