KUALA LUMPUR: National track riders will have to time their moves to perfection when they race at the Thailand Sea Game on Dec 18-19.
The competition will be held at the Huamark Velodrome in Bangkok, a concrete, outdoor track which is 333 metres long.
This differs from the 250m, wooden indoor tracks that Malaysia’s current crop of national riders are used to.
National track cycling team (sprint) head coach Harnizam Basri said the squad will head for a month-long training camp in Chiang Mai to adapt to the conditions.
Ridwan Sahrom, Fadhil Zonis and Akmal Jusena, who have been selected for the games, will train at the Chiang Mai Velodrome, which was used for the 1995 Sea Games, in the lead up to the competition.
“Competing on an outdoor track is very different. The laps in a race remain the same but the total distance of the race becomes longer because the velodrome is 333m,” said Harnizam when contacted today (Nov 8).
“We thus have to train longer to adapt to the longer distance of the race. A team sprint event is three laps, so instead of being 750m it now becomes a one kilometre event.
“You cannot afford to launch your attacks too early, that would be like giving your opponents a gift. We have to plan our strategies carefully.
“The banking on an outdoor velodrome is different and the concrete surface is also ‘heavier’ (has more friction).
“You are also exposed to wind which can play a big factor. There is no racing if it rains, but then you have to time your warmups to be prepared when racing resumes.
“This is why we have chosen to conduct our training camp in Chiang Mai. We will leave on Nov 17 and remain in Thailand until the games end.”
Thailand has four velodromes, all of which are concrete, outdoor tracks measuring 333m per lap. The other two are located in Suphan Buri and Nakhon Ratchasima.
The national squad will be competing in two events in Bangkok – men’s team sprint and keirin – and will be expected to fight for gold in both.
Thailand has not included any women’s track sprint disciplines for this year’s games.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
