PETALING JAYA: Terengganu Cycling Team’s (TSG) Wan Abdul Rahman Hamdan sprang a surprise by winning the Grand Prix of Antalya in Turkiye on Saturday (Feb 1).
Abdul Rahman out-sprinted a bunch of experienced cyclists from Europe to emerge victorious in three hours, seven minutes and 42 seconds.
Ramazan Yilmaz and Kaplan Emre, both from Turkiye, completed the podium.
More than 120 riders took part in the 127.2km long UCI-classified one-day race.
Abdul Rahman is only the second Malaysian cyclist to win a UCI-classified race in Europe after fellow TSG teammate Mohd Harrif Salleh.
Former SEA Games gold medallist Harrif, who did not finish the race in Antalya on Saturday, claimed the Velo Manavgart GP, also in Turkiye, in 2021.
Olympian cyclist Anatolii Budiak from Ukraine also claimed a top 10 finish for TSG, occupying sixth spot, followed by Zuladri Amin Zulkarnain in 11th.
Malaysia Games (Sukma) gold medallist Kee Zhe Yie finished a creditable 28th position for TSG.
An elated Wan Hamdan was delighted to put his name in the history books for Malaysian cycling.
“This is my biggest career win in cycling, definitely something I will cherish.
“I’m happy to show that Malaysians can also win in Europe and I have to thank my teammates for helping to pave the way.
“All took their turns putting in shifts to bring me to the front,” said Wan Hamdan, who won the criterium gold medal for Terengganu in the 2022 edition of Sukma in KL just before he turned professional.
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