KUALA LUMPUR: National women's road cycling coach Amir Mustafa Rusli has stressed that Nur Aisyah Zubir needs to be given the right kind of racing experience ahead of her debut at the Paris Olympics next year.
Amir, who competed as a rider at the 2012 London Olympics, said the Olympic road race was a tougher competition compared with Asian-level races.
"Based on my own experience, the pace at the Olympic level is really tough because riders from the world tour will be competing," said Amir when met recently.
"And to prepare Aisyah, we really need to increase the number of races she goes to.
"I have discussed this with John Beasley (national track cycling head coach) and we have come up with a programme for her.
"We are looking at sending her to at least three UCI Asia Tour races early next year, which include the Tour of Biwase (Vietnam), Tour of Thailand and one more tour, possibly in China.
"In (early) July, we are hoping to send her to compete in at least one European classic.
"It is important that she compete in one of these European one-day races, which has a similar level of competition to the Olympics.
"Previously, the highest level she has raced at is at the Asian championships level."
Amir added that Aisyah will head straight to Paris after competing in the one-day race in Europe.
Aisyah will become the first Malaysian woman to compete in road cycling at the Olympics when she rolls off the start line in Paris.
Malaysia earned an Olympic slot after finishing second among Asian countries that had yet to qualify for Paris at the Asian Road Cycling Championships in Thailand (June).
The Malaysia National Cycling Federation (MNCF) said Aisyah was unanimously selected for the slot after consulting with the relevant stakeholders.
Aisyah, 26, has won five medals in the last two editions of the Sea Games.
