COME Jan 1, the elite track cycling endurance programme under the National Sports Council (NSC) will begin to operate as a UCI Continental team with an extensive programme that includes 21 races on the UCI Asia Tour calendar next year.
Officially registered as the NSC Cycling Team, the outfit’s first race as a UCI Continental Team will be in Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) on Feb 27-March 8, coach Harnizam Basri confirmed yesterday.
The team will also compete in the Jelajah Malaysia that begins on Friday.
The 10-man squad will include the likes of Amir Mustafa Rusli, Sofian Nabil Omar Bakri, Nik Mohd Azwan Zulkefli, Mohd Fairet Rusli, Afiq Huznie Othman, Mohd Zawawi Azman and Mohd Farid Razali.
“The priority will still be track endurance events, but we need to tie in a high-level road racing programme,” said Harnizam.
Next year will see two Malaysian Continental teams racing on the UCI Asia Tour with the Terengganu Cycling Team already well established among the top teams on the continental circuit.