The emergence of the newly-created continental team Terengganu Pro Asia led the first national champion title won by Shahrul Mat Amin who is one of the most interesting prospects of Malaysian cycling at the age of 22.
Shahrul out-sprinted his two breakaway companions Zamri Salleh and Ahmad Fallanie Ali who are also from the state of Terengganu, which is the hot bed of Malaysian cycling, but they are from different teams. The trio rode clear with 40 kilometres to go with Rizuan Zainal who got cramps towards the end.
"There were just too many riders from Terengganu in the peloton," fourth placed Sayuti Zahit told Cyclingnews. The new Malaysian team was directed on the road by their experienced sprinter Anuar Manan who made sure that defending champion Adiq Hussainie just returning home from racing in Belgium and his team-mate Amir Mustafa from the Australian Drapac team wouldn't disturb their plans. "I let this breakaway develop," Anuar said with satisfaction.
"I'm so happy to win this race after finishing second last year," Shahrul said. "To have the jersey for one year is a dream come true. I believe I'll wear it in an international competition for the first time at the Tour of Brunei in September."
As he was closely watched by Australian coaches Graham Sears and John Beasley, Shahrul secured to be part of the program of the Malaysian national team to go training in Chang Mai, Thailand, in August, and race in Australia, including the Herald Dun Tour later on. "We're already preparing the team for the Sea Games in November, the Asian championship in February and Le Tour de Langkawi."
Malaysia's famous H.C. race will be held from February 24 to March 4 and will finish for the first time in Terengganu. "We're going to work closely with the Terengganu Pro Asia team, as most of our national riders come from there," Sears added. In their first year, the team that also features Japanese veteran Shinichi Fukushima and rising Korean star Jang Chan Jae who recently won stage 2 at the Tour of Korea and stage 7 at the Tour of Singkarak, is currently ranked eighth on the Asia Tour.
Results
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin (Terengganu Pro Asia) | 4:18:47 |
| 2 | Mohd Zamri Salleh (ATM) | |
| 3 | Ahmad Fallanie Ali (DB Kuala Lumpur) | 0:00:03 |
| 4 | Sayuti Zahit (UTEM) | 0:01:21 |
| 5 | Fauzan Ahmad Lufti (Police) | |
| 6 | Nur Amirul Fakharuddin Mazuki (Terengganu Pro Asia) | 0:01:22 |
| 7 | Rauf Nur Misbah (Selangor) | |
| 8 | Amir Mustafa (Drapac) 1.25 | |
| 9 | Mohd Harrif Salleh (Terengganu Pro Asia) | 0:02:30 |
| 10 | Amiruddin Jamaluddin (UTEM) | |
| 11 | Nor Rizual Zainal (ATM) | 0:02:31 |
| 12 | Anuar Manan (Terengganu Pro Asia) | 0:02:32 |
| 13 | Mohd Nazri Muhammad (Kuala Lumpur) | 0:02:34 |
| 14 | Akmal Amrun (Selangor) | 0:02:36 |
| 15 | Adiq Hussainie Othman (Drapac) | 0:02:37 |
-
Mollema escapes serious injury in Tour de Luxembourg crash
Dutch rider gets a turn wrong in stage 4 time trial -
2021 UCI Road World Championships: 5 riders to watch in elite women's time trial
No defending champion leaves title open for Van Vleuten, Reusser, Brennauer and more -
Van Aert and Evenepoel take aim at world time trial title on home roads in Flanders
'Becoming world time trial champion is on my list' says Van Aert -
Tour of Slovakia: Steimle wins crash-marred stage 2 sprint
Sagan avoids melee for second
