TEAM Sapura Cycling got their national road cycling championships campaign off to a positive start after successfully defending the men's elite individual time trial title in Melaka yesterday.
Sapura's Nur Aiman Rosli completed the 45.3-kilometre course in Bukit Katil in a time of one hour and 17.742 seconds to win the title for a second straight year.
Teammate Shaiful Adlan Shukri came in second, 18.55s adrift, while Terengganu Cycling Team's (TSG) Nur Aiman Zariff took third (+1:05.212s).
Aiman Rosli, who competed at the Tour of Thailand earlier this month, was pleased to defend his title.
"It was tougher this time because I had to undergo quarantine (after returning from Thailand), so it affected my preparation," said Aiman Rosli yesterday.
"I am grateful to have won again. However, I am a little disappointed as I wanted to go even faster than last year.
"I could not achieve it due to the strong winds here."
Siti Nur Adibah Akma of Johor A won the women's elite individual time trial, which utilised a shorter 30.2km course, in 46:41:964s.
Terengganu A's Nur Aisyah Zubir came in a close second (+0.074s), while Nurqadrina Emylia Norzali (Selangor A) settled for third (+2:50.785s).
The men's elite road race (180.6km), which is expected to be another battle between big guns TSG and Sapura, will be held today.
Sapura had won the road race via Akmal Hakim Zakaria last year.