| Khairil Hassan |
BRUNEIAN cyclists Muhammad Raihaan bin Abdul Aziz, Azmi bin Abdul Hadzid and Amiruddin bin Haji Amir linked up with four former Java Partizan Pro Cycling Team members to form the backbone of Brunei Continental Cycling Team (BCCT).
BCCT, formed for the 2019 Union Cycliste International (UCI) season, will compete in the Le Tour de Langkawi, an eight-stage race which flags off on April 6 and concludes on April 13.
“This team was formed for the development of junior riders. It’s easy to build a platform for elite or paid riders, but we need a platform for the younger generation to perform,” BCCT Assistant Sports Director Khairul Anuar Shukor said at a sponsorship signing ceremony with BruPay yesterday.
The signing took place between BruPay Chief Executive Officer Haji Sophian bin Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny and BCCT Sports Director Muhammad Firdaus bin Daud at BruPay’s headquarters.
The former Java Partizan Pro Cycling Team members are Mehdi Tigrine of Belgium, Bernard Benyamin Van Aert of Indonesia, Martin Ford of Great Britain and Charalampos Kastrantas of Greece. They competed in the Java Partizan jersey in 2018 season where they won six UCI races and registered a handful of top 10 placements.
Turkey national Abay Burak, Branwill Blaauw and Alexander Parsons of South Africa, Malaysians Muhamad Fakhruazam Mohd Hanifiah and Muhammad Nur Aiman Rosli, and Dadi Suryadi of Indonesia complete the Bruneian outfit.
“This team is a bridge for junior cyclists with high potential – to give them exposure across four continents – Europe, the States, Asia and Africa,” Khairul Anuar added.
The team made its debut for the 2019 season at the National Road Championships in South Africa on February 10, with Alexander Parsons placed 40th among a 94-strong all-South African field.
Martin Ford, Mehdi Tigrine and Charalampos Kastrantas also made their BCCT bows at the Tour de Taiwan in March, placing 86th, 90th and 96th.