Indonesia’s Best Cyclists Head to Netherlands for Pre-Asiad Training Camp

Jakarta Globe, September 16, 2010

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Indonesia’s top riders are leaving no stone unturned in their Asian Games preparations, as they travel to the Netherlands to train for the Guangzhou, China, tournament.

Tonton Susanto and Santia Tri Kusuma, the country’s No. 1 cyclists in the men’s and women’s divisions respectively, will lead a five-strong Indonesia team for a training camp in Alkmaar expected to last six weeks or longer.

Completing the team are Ryan Ariehaan Hilmant, Yanthi Fuchiyanti and Wilhelmina Tutuarima. The team is taking a flight to the Netherlands today.

Tonton and Ryan will compete in the men’s road race in the Asian Games, while Santia and Yanthi will take part in the women’s track events.

Wilhelmina, a top junior prospect, joined the Alkmaar-bound team as part of the Indonesian Cycling Union’s (ISSI) youth development program.

Cycling team manager Denny Gumulya said the Netherlands offered the best training setup for the Indonesian national team because it offered good facilities and many opportunities for competition.

“So our cyclists will have a lot of chances to work on their skills, their endurance, everything that’s necessary to get better,” Denny said. “They mustn’t waste this opportunity, that’s all we ask.”

However, the bar will be set higher for Santia, a bronze medalist in the 2002 Asian Games in Korea.

She has shown improvement in the 500-meter time trial event, posting her best time of 36.847 seconds during the Asian Cycling Confederation Track Asia Cup 2010 in Japan, in June.

Santia finished fourth in the competition, as Hong Kong’s Lee Wai Sze clinched the gold with a time of 35.36 seconds.

Santia’s previous best time was 37.907 seconds, which she registered during last year’s Asian Cycling Championship in Tenggarong, East Kalimantan.

Denny said it was important for Santia to continue lowering her time if she hoped for a podium finish at the Asian Games in November.

“ We’re hoping she can get even faster, because we know she’s our biggest hope for a medal in Guangzhou. We believe training in the Netherlands will help her a lot in this regard,” Denny said.

Santia agreed. “I was in the Netherlands to prepare for the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, and it played a big factor as I won the gold medal [in the time trial],” she said.

“I participated in a number of competitions there and got the opportunity to practice with some really good cyclists. That helped me to improve, and hopefully it will pay dividends for me again.” 

Ami Afriatni