Well done: Mohd Fauzan Ahmad Lufti (centre) celebrates with Mohd Saufi Mat Senan (left) and Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal on the podium after winning the individual time trial in the Malacca leg of the National Grand Prix Championship in Bukit Katil Sunday.

PETALING JAYA: Cyclist Mohd Fauzan Ahmad Lufti, who returned to the saddle last year after serving a two-year ban for doping, showed he is back in the groove by closing out the year on a high note.

Fauzan completed a double by winning the individual time trial in the Malacca leg of the National Grand Prix Championship in Bukit Katil yesterday. The 26-year-old completed the 41.9km race in 54:48.612 to finish ahead of Terengganu Cycling Team’s Mohd Saufi Mat Senan.

Earlier on Saturday, Fauzan emerged as champion in the 228km elite mass event – the longest one-day race in the country – under scorching conditions. He completed the gruelling race in 5’48:18 to pip Kuala Lumpur’s Ahmad Fallanie Ali at the finish line.

Fauzan, riding for the Police team, has thus confirmed his place in the team for two major assignments early next year – the Tour de Langkawi in February and the Asian Cycling Championships in New Delhi in March.

Fauzan also emerged as overall winner for the 2012 season in the individual time trial after dominating the previous two legs in Perak and Kelantan to pocket the maximum 90 points.

It was a complete turnaround of fortunes for Fauzan. He only returned to competition last year after enduring two years in the wilderness for testing positive for nandrolone in 2009.

“I am very satisfied with the win today. I almost did not start the race. I was having some technical problems at the start and I lost a few precious minutes. I thought it was going to be difficult to win but I guess it must be my lucky day,” said Fauzan.

“It is good to end the year with two wins. I think not many are able to achieve what I did over the last two days. The success will encourage me to do well in the ACC and Tour de Langkawi,” said Fauzan.

RESULTS

Men’s individual time trial: 1. Mohd Fauzan Ahmad Lufti (Pol) 54:48.612, 2. Mohd Saufi Mat Senan (Ter) 56:55.378, 3. Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal (TLDM) 57:50.008, 4. Mohd Razif Mohd Salleh (LeTua) 58:01.633, 5. Mohd Saiful Anuar (Ter) 58:03.121. Final overall standings: 1. Mohd Fauzan Ahmad Lufti (Pol) 90 pts, 2. Nik Mohd Azwan (Pol) 45, 3. Mohd Nor Umardi Rosdi (Ter) 43, 4. Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal (TLDM) 28, 5. Ng Yong Li (Kul) 26.

Women’s individual time trial: 1. Mariana Mohamad (Sel) 40:10.073, 2. Nurul Suhada Zainal (Ter) 42:53.065, 3. Nor Azian Alias (Joh) 42:54.109, 4. Masziyaton Mohd Radzi (Ked) 43:05.985, 5. Nina Puspawadarni (Ina) 43:34.565.

Final overall standings: 1. Nurul Suhada Zainal (Ter) 61, 2. Mariana Mohamad (Sel) 55, 3. Masziyaton Mohd Radzi (Ked) 45, 4. Nor Azian Maslin (Sab) 28, 5. Nurazimah Rashid (Sel) 25.

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