THE 50th anniversary edition of the Jelajah Malaysia that starts today threatens to be an all-Malaysian show if it is left to the bunch sprints as Sofian Nabil Omar Bakri vowed to take the challenge to Harrif Saleh and his Terengganu Cycling Team.
NSC Cycling Team rider Sofian Nabil has come close to his first UCI Asia Tour victory on three occasions this year in the Tour of Khatulistiva and Tour of Ijen, but having settled for second in all.
This time the 21-year old believes it will be down to Harrif and himself should it come to bunch sprints.
“We have a good team with veteran Suhardi Hassan on board, so we can strategise for the sprints. If there is an opening, I will go for it,” said Sofian Nabil.
The NSC team also feature national track endurance riders Mohd Farid Razali and Mohd Zawawi Azman, along with last-minute inclusion Ma Chau Ying, a 21-year-old mountain biker from Johor, who will be tested in this race for the first time.
Fresh from his first stage victory in over a year in the final stage of the Tour of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates two weeks ago, Harrif doesn’t want to get carried away by the battle with Sofian Nabil, stating he expects the team to be put to hard work just keeping together for bunch sprint finishes.
“Of course, looking at the field I don’t see many sprinters. So it may be down to Nabil and myself.
“That is if it comes to bunch sprints. It won’t be that easy,” said Harrif, 26, who will be supported by elder brother Zamri, Adiq Husainie Othman, Shahrul Mat Amin, Saiful Anuar Abdul Aziz and Nor Umardi Rosdi in the Terengganu Cycling Team.
“But what we saw in Sharjah was the strength of the Skydive Dubai team.
“They don’t have sprinters, so they will go for breakaways everytime. That will be the problem. We might not even have bunch sprints, so we have to be ready with riders to go on the breakaway.
“I believe Zamri, Adiq and Shahrul should also be capable of matching Skydive Dubai this time.
“But if it comes to bunch sprints, then I am more than ready for Nabil.”
Skydive Dubai seem favourites for the overall title, having come with Spanish veteran Francisco Mancebo, Tunisia’s Rafa Chtoui, Turkey’s Maher Hasnaoui, the sole Emirati Mohammed Ali Murawwi and Moroccans Adil Jelloul and Soufiane Haddi.
Today’s stage sees a tricky 150.5 kilometre route from Seremban 2 to Port Dickson with three intermediate sprints coming after 28.2km in Tanjung Ipoh, 80.5km in Rembau and 112km in Linggi, with two categorised climbs at Bukit Putus (Cat 3) after 13.2km and Kampung Batu (Cat 3) after 70.2km. By Arnaz M. Khairul