Malaysia Pro Cycling Team’s Mohamad Saari Amri Abd Rasim sprints to his career-first solo victory with Singaporean Tong Khoon Fong coming in second
Johor, Malaysia, 14 September 2024 - The streets of Iskandar Puteri came alive as cycling enthusiasts from across the region gathered for the first-ever Maybank Cycling Series Johor. The event drew over 5,000 eventgoers, including family and friends, to celebrate heritage, sustainability and community spirit.
Organised by Majlis Sukan Negeri Johor (MSNJ) and KPRJ Sports Sdn Bhd (KSSB), the inaugural Maybank Cycling Series Johor aimed to promote an active lifestyle while advocating for environmentally conscious practices and supporting initiatives to preserve Johor's natural and cultural heritage.
Over 2,500 cyclists from 35 countries flagged off from Sunway Big Box Retail Park Iskandar Puteri, embarking on a scenic route through many of Iskandar Puteri’s iconic landmarks including Legoland and EnerG X Park, Leisure Farm Resort, Kukup Golf Resort, The Museum Bugis coastline path, and more, tackling two categories - a challenging 120km Road Race and a 60km Fellowship Ride.
In a thrilling competition, Mohamad Saari Amri Abd Rasim and Khairunnisa Aleeya Saifulnizam emerged as overall champions in the rain-soaked men's and women's races, respectively. Both Johor-born cyclists delighted the local Malaysian fans with their victories.
Singaporean Tong Khoon Fung came in second, trailing just behind the Malaysian.
Saari dominated the men's race, crossing the finish line solo with an impressive time of 2:47:37. He finished 17 seconds ahead of his closest challengers, Tong Khoon Fung (2:47:54) and Muhammad Faheem Razen M Zaini (2:47:57).
For the 26-year-old Saari, this victory came at an opportune moment. He hopes it will boost his chances of selection for the Malaysia Pro Cycling Team squad in the upcoming Le Tour De Langkawi.
"In the final 20km, I seized the opportunity to break away from the peloton and pushed solo all the way to the finish. It's particularly satisfying because my previous wins were in bunched sprints," Saari explained.
"The Maybank Cycling Series Johor was no less competitive, as there were some quality competitors who were former members of pro tour and national teams," noted Saari, who also came out on top in the Men's Master A category and led Malaysia Pro Cycling Team to team glory.
He added, "A big shoutout to organisers and sponsors who worked tirelessly to make this event a success. It's been a while since we had a cycling event of this scale, especially after COVID-19. The state needs this kind of event badly because it's through these events that the talent pool can be expanded and new talents discovered."
Khairunnisa picked up where she left off from Sukma in Sarawak recently to make it two wins on the trot. The 20-year-old clinched the yellow jersey in emphatic fashion, clocking 2:49:48 to defeat her more illustrious national teammate Phi Kun Pan.
The reigning Under-23 Asian Road Cycling Champion Phi Kun Pan came in second with 2:59:33, followed by Nurina Qistina Zahraa Dewa Indra in third (3:04:40).
"I would say today's victory was rather unexpected. I did not set any target as I had just returned to training barely a week ago, after competing in Sukma recently," said Khairunnisa, also the winner of women’s Under-23 honour.
"Winning in my home state made it even more special. It's a great effort by the organizers because it provided amateur riders with a platform to shine. Frankly, I thought the race was challenging. It was definitely not a stroll in the park; the pace of the race was nearly, if not on par with those pro races."
Ts. Mohd Ekmaluddin Ishak, Director of MSNJ said “Our main objective was to inspire a healthier lifestyle among the community by encouraging active participation through cycling. We strongly believe that events like this play a crucial role in building a stronger and more engaged community.”
“Furthermore, the Maybank Cycling Series Johor marks a significant step towards establishing Johor as a cycling destination. By organising our own cycling series, we demonstrated the state’s commitment to supporting the growth and development of the cycling community. We are confident that this event has contributed to making Johor a more cycling-friendly state and hope this entire event will inspire more people to embrace cycling as a mode of recreation.”
While riders navigated the routes of Iskandar Puteri, Maybank Cycling Series also hosted a vibrant festival village offering a wide range of activities for attendees of all ages. The excitement included BMX downhill challenge for the extreme enthusiasts, pushbike circuit races for children, among various other engaging activities and booths. Eventgoers were also entertained by live stage performances from the Hard Rock resident music band and a cultural showcase by Yayasan Warisan Johor.
The festival also had a strong focus on giving back, incorporating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Over 250 mangrove trees were planted at Taman Negara Johor Tanjung Piai in Pontian, with a pledge to plant one tree for every ten participants.
Johor-born Olympians lent their star power to the event with special appearances. National track cycling ace Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom and golfer Kelly Tan added prestige to the occasion. Muar-born Shah Firdaus recently reached the men's keirin final at the Paris Olympics, while Maybank ambassador Kelly, hailing from Batu Pahat, has represented Malaysia twice at the Olympics - in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. Also gracing the event was former SEA Games netball gold medallist, Nur Fariha Abdul Razak who also hails from Johor.
2024 MAYBANK CYCLING SERIES JOHOR – 120KM ROAD RACE – MEN OVERALL | |||
1ST | Mohamad Saari Amri Abd Rasim | Malaysia | 02:47:37 |
2ND | Tong Khoon Fung | Singapore | 02:47:54 |
3RD | Muhammad Faheem Razen bin M Zaini | Malaysia | 02:47:57 |
2024 MAYBANK CYCLING SERIES JOHOR – 120KM ROAD RACE – WOMEN OVERALL | |||
1ST | Khairunnisa Aleeya Binti Saifulnizam | Malaysia | 02:49:48 |
2ND | Phi Kun Pan | Malaysia | 02:59:33 |
3RD | Nurina Qistina Zahraa Dewa Indra | Malaysia | 03:04:40 |
2024 Maybank Cycling Series Johor – CATEGORY WINNERS – 120KM | ||
TEAM | Malaysia Pro Cycling | Malaysia |
SPRINT | Mohamad Saari Amri Abd Rasim | Malaysia |
KING OF THE MOUNTAIN | Mohamad Izzat Hilmi Abd Halil | Malaysia |
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