Indonesian Robin Aims To Defend Cycling Gold

SEPANG (Selangor, Malaysia), Aug 11 (Bernama) -- Indonesian road race cyclist, Robin Manullang aims to defend the gold medal in the men’s time trial at the 2017 SEA Games at the Nilai National Velodrome from Aug 21 to 29. The former Pegasus Continental Cycling Team racer, who won the gold in the individual time trial at the 2015 edition in Singapore, expressed confidence that he could grab the gold although only the team time trial event was being contested this time around. “Of course it’s my target to defend the gold in the time trial and the challenge I believe may come from Malaysia and Thailand because I frequently meet their riders in several championships earlier,” said Robin when met by reporters upon the arrival of the Indonesian cycling team at the KL International Airport, here Thursday night. Robin who had won two gold medals in the 2013 edition in Myanmar, however, did not set any target in the two other events he would be participating, namely, the road race and the criterium. "I had been to Nilai in 2012 to participate in a competition, so maybe I am already familiar with the route and before coming to Malaysia, the training focused only in Indonesia because the difference in the terrain in Malaysia is not much,” Robin said. Meanwhile, Indonesian cycling squad manager Suwandra was confident Robin could help the team to achieve a positive result at the 29th edition of the biennial games through his wide experience in several international championships previously. Suwandra, who was a former Indonesian national racer, explained that their riders had undergone intensive training for the past several months in Indonesia to face the challenge this time. “We are sending 10 male riders and two females this time and we are placing much hope for a positive result although we know Malaysia and Thailand may prove to be a tough fight for us. "We arrive in Malaysia earlier to familiarise with the championship venue in Nilai because some of them are competing in Malaysia for the first time,” said Suwandra who believed Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam could put up a strong challenge at the SEA Games this time around. The cycling event offers 20 gold medals at the 2017 SEA Games. -- BERNAMA