KUALA LUMPUR: Team Sapura Cycling rider Nur Aiman Zariff has set the bar high for himself following his standout performance at the recent Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL).
Aiman said his red jersey victory at LTdL, the first won by a Malaysian in the history of the competition, has given him both the confidence and determination to push harder.
The Setiu-born rider, who only turns 23 in October, still has his best years ahead of him.
“I wanted to follow in the footsteps of Anuar Manan and Adiq Husainie Othman at LTdL and do something special like they did when they won the green (points classification) and white (Asian classification) jerseys,” said Aiman.
“Obviously, I am happy to be able to win a jersey as they did, and this gives me the motivation to keep pushing harder.
“I will find ways to improve in training and do better in the general classification (GC). I did well in the GC at the Cambodia Bay Cycling Tour earlier this year by finishing second, so I believe there is potential to improve.
“Anyway I am only 23 this year so there is still time. In the long term, I hope to compete at a higher level such as the World Tour one day.”
He started riding fixed-gear bicycles when he was 13 and his talent was soon spotted. By 15, he was already part of Terengganu’s Malaysia Games programme.
Aiman, whose parents are night market (Pasar Malam) traders, stressed that he will always remain grounded no matter how successful he is.
“Harrif Saleh is one of many seniors I look up to. He (Harrif) helped me a lot in the beginning. He gave me shoes and jerseys to wear and tried to help me with whatever I had lacked,” added Aiman.
“I believe my secret to success is that I always try to help my family because I don't come from a well-to-do family.
“I am the eldest of five children, and I will try to give back because I don't want them (siblings) to struggle like I had before."
Aiman and Harrif were formerly teammates at Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) before the former joined Sapura in 2018.
Harrif also created history at LTdL by winning two stages of the tour this year. He now has three LTdL career-stage wins to his name, more than any other Asian rider in the history of the competition.