LANGKAWI: Mohd Iqbal Daniel Nawawi and Tsen Ren Bao have gone from sharing the Malaysia Games (Sukma) podium in Sarawak to riding in the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) stage together.
The LTdL debutants are itching to get going when the race starts today but the nerves are also kicking in for both riders.
Iqbal, who clinched two gold medals at this year’s Sukma in the boy’s individual road race and team event for Terengganu, will be making his debut with UCI continental outfit Hengxiang Cycling Team from China.
The 20-year-old said even though he has only spent a short time with the team, he feels right at home with them.
“The team had initially asked me to join them in March, but I had to focus on Sukma last month and they understood.
“Even though it has been a short time with them, the team have been supportive in accepting me although my English isn’t the best,” he said when met at the LTdL opening ceremony at Dataran Lang on Friday.
Iqbal added that off track, he and Ren Bao are still good friends, and it would be a fun experience to race against the Sukma bronze medallist once again on a bigger stage.
Ren Bao will race for the national team.
“We’re both different riders, he is strong in the climbs while I’m more of an all-rounded rider who can sprint well too.
“But off the track, we still stay in contact as usual. We’re good friends, but come race time, it’s all about the competition,” said Iqbal.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old Ren Bao, who took the bronze medal at Sukma in the boy’s individual road race, said he feels some pressure following in his father, Tsen Seong Hoong’s footsteps, who made eight LTdL appearances during his career.
“I do feel nervous, but my father told me to just have fun. If I can do my best, then I should do it for my country and my team,” he said.
Ren Bao added that his father would be at Stage 5 in Kuala Lumpur to see him in action.
“If he is around for all the stages, maybe it would be a lot of stress. But once you’re in a professional team, you have to zone out and block the noise,” said Ren Bao.
He is looking forward to Stage 3 where the cavalcade will head up the slopes of Cameron Highlands.
“My strength is in the climbs, so I’m looking forward to Stage 3. But at the same time I’m taking it one stage at a time and not thinking too far ahead,” he added.
– The Star
